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COPYRIGHT DEPOS4T. 



The 
Adventures of Buffalo Bill 



By COL. WILLIAM F. CODY 

(BUFFALO BILL) 



TO WHICH IS APPENDED A 
SHORT SKETCH OE HIS LIFE 




NEW YORK AND LONDON 

HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS 

1904 






LIBRARY of CONGRESS 
Two Cooies Received 

JUN 9 1904 

Copyright Entry 
CLASS A XXo. No. 



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d5pY b ' 



Copyright, 1904, by Harper & Brothers. 

All rights reserved. 

Published June, 1904. 



• * t »**••• « #•• 



CONTENTS 

THE ADVENTURES OF BUFFALO BILL 

PAGE 

I. Crossing the Plains 3 

II. Rounding Up Indians 2S 

III. Pursuing the Sioux 48 

IV. My Duel with Yellow Hand 70 

THE LIFE OF BUFFALO BILL 

I. The Little Boy of the Prairie 93 

II. Little Bill Cody at School and at the Traps . . . 10S 

III. The Pony Express Rider 122 

IV. "Bill Cody, the Scout" 137 

V. The Indian Campaigns with the Army 144 

VI. Buffalo Bill and His Show 152 



THE ADVENTURES OF 
BUFFALO BILL 



THE ADVENTURES OF 
BUFFALO BILL 

i 

Crossing the Plains 

IN the early settlement of Kansas common-school ad- 
vantages were denied lis, and to provide a means for 
educating the few boys and girls in the neighborhood of 
my home, a subscription school was started in a small log 
cabin that was built on the bank of a creek that ran near 
our house. My mother took great interest in this school, 
and at her persuasion I returned home and became enrolled 
as a pupil, where I made satisfactory progress until, as 
the result of a quarrel with a schoolmate, I left the town 
and started across the plains with one of Russell, Majors 
& WaddelFs freight-trains. 

The trip proved a most enjoyable one to me, although 
no incidents worthy of note occurred on the way. On my 

3 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

return from Fort Kearny I was paid off the same as the 
rest of the employes. The remainder of the summer and 
fall I spent in herding cattle and working for Russell, 
Majors & Waddell. 

In May, 1857, I started for Salt Lake City with a herd 
of beef cattle, in charge of Frank and Bill McCarthy, for 
General Albert Sidney Johnston's army, which was then 
being sent across the plains to fight the Mormons. 

Nothing occurred to interrupt our journey until we 
reached Plum Creek, on the South Platte River, thirty- 
five miles west of old Fort Kearny. We had made a 
morning drive, and had camped for dinner. The wagon- 
masters and a majority of the men had gone to sleep un- 
der the mess-wagons. The cattle were being guarded by 
three men, and the cook was preparing dinner. No one 
had any idea that Indians were anywhere near us. The 
first warning we had that they were infesting that part 
of the country was the firing of shots and the whoops and 
yells from a party of them, who, catching us napping, 
gave us a most unwelcome surprise. All the men jumped 
to their feet and seized their guns. They saw with as- 
tonishment the cattle running in every direction, they hav- 
ing been stampeded by the Indians, who had shot and 

4 



Crossing the Plains 

killed the three men who were on day herd duty, and the 
redmen were now charging down upon the rest of ns. 

The McCarthy boys, at the proper moment, gave or- 
ders to fire upon the advancing enemy. The volley check- 
ed them, although they returned the compliment, and 
shot one of our party through the leg. Frank McCarthy 
then sang out, " Boys, make a break for the slough yonder, 
and we can then have the bank for a breastwork." 

We made a run for the slough, which was only a short 
distance off, and succeeded in safely reaching it, bringing 
with ns the wounded, man. The bank proved to be a 
very effective breastwork, affording us good protection. 
We had been there but a short time when Frank McCar- 
thy, seeing that the longer we were corralled the worse 
it would be for us, said, 

" Well, boys, we'll try to make our way back to Fort 
Kearny by wading in the river and keeping the bank for 
a breastwork." 

We all agreed that this was the best plan, and we ac- 
cordingly proceeded down the river several miles in this 
way, managing to keep the Indians at a safe distance with 
our guns, until the slough made a junction with the main 
Platte River. From there down we found the river at 

5 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

times quite deep, and in order to carry the wounded man 
along with us, we constructed a raft of poles for his ac- 
commodation, and in this way he was transported. 

Occasionally the water would be too deep for us to wade, 
and we were obliged to put our weapons on the raft and 
swim. The Indians followed us pretty closely, and were 
continually watching for an opportunity to get a good 
range and give us a raking fire. Covering ourselves by 
keeping well under the bank, we pushed ahead as rapidly 
as possible, and made pretty good progress, the night find- 
ing us still on the way and our enemies yet on our track. 

I, being the youngest and smallest of the party, be- 
came somewhat tired, and, without noticing it, I had fallen 
behind the others for some little distance. It was about 
ten o'clock, and we were keeping very quiet and hugging 
close to the bank, when I happened to look up to the moon- 
lit sky and saw the plumed head of an Indian peeping over 
the bank. Instead of hurrying ahead and alarming the 
men in a quiet way, I instantly aimed my gun at his head 
and fired. The report rang out sharp and loud on the 
night air, and was immediately followed by an Indian 
whoop, and the next moment about six feet of dead Indian 
came tumbling into the river. I was not only overcome 

6 



Crossing the Plains 

with astonishment, but was badly scared, as I could hardly 
realize what I had done. I expected to see the whole force 
of Indians come down upon us. While I was standing 
thus bewildered, the men, who had heard the shot and the 
war-whoop, and had seen the Indian take a tumble, came 
rushing back. 

" Who fired that shot ?" cried Frank McCarthy. 

" I did," replied I, rather proudly, as my confidence re- 
turned, and I saw the men coming up. 

" Yes, and little Billy has killed an Indian stone-dead 
— too dead to skin," said one of the men, who had ap- 
proached nearer than the rest, and had almost stumbled 
upon the Indian. From that time forward I became a 
hero and an Indian-killer. This was, of course, the first 
Indian I had ever shot, and as I was not then more than 
eleven years of age, my exploit created quite a sensation. 

The other Indians, upon learning what had happened 
to their advance, fired several shots without effect, but 
which hastened our retreat down the river. We reached 
Fort Kearny just as the reveille was being sounded, bring- 
ing the wounded man with us. After the peril through 
which we had passed, it was a relief to feel that once more 
I was safe after such a dangerous initiation. 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

Frank McCarthy immediately reported to the com- 
manding officer and informed him of all that had hap- 
pened. The commandant at once ordered a company of 
cavalry and one of infantry to proceed to Plum Creek on 
a forced march, taking a howitzer with them — to endeavor 
to recapture the cattle from the Indians. 

The firm of Russell, Majors & Waddell had a division 
agent at Kearny, and this agent mounted us on mules so 
that we could accompany the troops. On reaching the 
place where the Indians had surprised us, we found the 
bodies of the three men, whom they had killed and scalped 
and literally cut into pieces. We of Course buried the re- 
mains. We caught but few of the cattle, most of them 
having been driven off and stampeded with the buffaloes, 
there being numerous immense herds of the latter in that 
section of the country at the time. The Indians' trail was 
discovered running south toward the Republican River, 
and the troops followed it to the head of Plum Creek, and 
there abandoned it, returning to Fort Kearny without 
having seen a single redskin. 

The company's agent, seeing that there was no further 
use for us in that vicinity — as we had lost our cattle and 
mules — sent us back to Fort Leavenworth. The company, 

8 



Crossing the Plains 

it is proper to state, did not have to stand the loss of the 
expedition, as the government held itself responsible for 
such depredations by the Indians. 

On the day that I got into Leavenworth, some time in 
July, I was interviewed for the first time in my life by a 
newspaper reporter, and the next morning I found my 
name in print as " the youngest Indian-slayer on the 
plains." I am candid enough to admit that I felt very 
much elated over this notoriety. Again and again I read 
with eager interest the long and sensational account of our 
adventure. My exploit was related in a very graphic man- 
ner, and for a long time afterward I was considerable of 
a hero. 

In the following summer, Russell, Majors & Waddell 
entered upon a contract with the government for General 
Albert Sidney Johnston's army that was sent against the 
Mormons. A large number of teams and teamsters were 
required for the purpose, and as the route was considered 
a dangerous one, men were not easily engaged for the 
service, though the pay was forty dollars a month in gold. 
An old wagon-master named Lew Simpson, one of the best 
that ever commanded a bull train, was upon the point of 
starting with about ten wagons for the company, direct 

9 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

for Salt Lake, and as he had known me for some time as 
an ambitious youth, requested me to accompany him as an 
extra hand. My duties would be light, and, in fact, I 
would have nothing to do, unless some one of the drivers 
should become sick, in which case I would be required to 
take his place. But even more seductive than this induce- 
ment was the promise that I should be provided with a 
mule of my own to ride, and be subject to the orders of no 
one save Simpson himself. 

As a matter of interest to the general reader, it may be 
well to give a brief description of a freight-train. The 
wagons used in those days by Russell, Majors & Waddell 
were known as the " J. Murphy wagons," made at St. 
Louis especially for the plains business. They were very 
large and very strongly built, being capable of carrying 
seven thousand pounds of freight each. The wagon boxes 
were very commodious, being about as large as the rooms 
of an ordinary house, and were covered with two heavy 
canvas sheets to protect the merchandise from the rain. 
These wagons were generally sent out from Leavenworth, 
each loaded with six thousand pounds of freight, and each 
drawn by several yoke of oxen in charge of one driver. A 
train consisted of twenty-five wagons, all in charge of one 

10 



Crossing the Plains 

man, who was known as the wagon-master. The second 
man in command was the assistant wagon-master. Then 
came the " extra hand," next the night herder, and lastly 
the cavayard driver, whose duty it was to drive the loose 
and lame cattle. There were thirty-one men all told in a 
train. The men did their own cooking, being divided into 
messes of seven. One man cooked, another brought wood 
and water, another stood guard, and so on, each having 
some duty to perform while getting meals. All were 
heavily armed with Colt's pistols and Mississippi yagers, 
and every one always had his weapons handy so as to be 
prepared for any emergency. 

The wagon-master, in the language of the plains, was 
called the " bull-wagon boss " ; the teamsters were known 
as " bull-whackers " ; and the whole train was denominated 
a " bull outfit." Everything at that time was called an 
" outfit." The men of the plains were always full of a 
droll humor and exciting stories of their own experiences, 
and many an hour I spent in listening to the recitals of 
thrilling adventures and hair-breadth escapes. 

The trail to Salt Lake ran through Kansas northwest- 
wardly, crossing the Big Blue River, then over the Big 
and Little Sandy, coming into Nebraska near the Big 

11 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

Sandy. The next stream of any importance was the Little 
Blue, along which the trail ran for sixty miles, then 
crossed a range of sand hills, and struck the Platte River 
ten miles below Fort Kearny; thence the course lay up 
the South Platte to the old Ash Hollow Crossing; thence 
eighteen miles across to the North Platte, near the mouth 
of the Blue Water, where General Harney had his great 
battle in 1855 with the Sioux and Cheyenne Indians. 
From this point the North Platte was followed, passing 
Courthouse Rock, Chimney Rock, and Scott's Bluffs, and 
then on to Fort Laramie, where the Laramie River was 
crossed. Still following the North Platte for some con- 
siderable distance, the trail crossed the river at old Rich- 
ard's Bridge, and followed it up to the celebrated Red 
Buttes, crossing the Willow Creeks to the Sweet Water, 
thence past the Cold Springs, where, three feet under the 
sod, on the hottest day of summer, ice can be found; 
thence to the Hot Springs and the Rocky Ridge, and 
through the Rocky Mountains and Echo Canyon, and 
thence on to the great Salt Lake Valley. 

Nothing occurred on the trip to delay or give us any 
trouble whatever, until the train struck the South Platte 
River. One day we camped on the same ground where 

12 



Crossing the Plains 

the Indians had surprised the cattle herd in charge of the 
McCarthy brothers. It was with difficulty that we dis- 
covered any traces of anybody ever having camped there 
before, the only landmark being the single grave, now 
covered with grass, in which we had buried the three men 
who had been killed. The country was alive with buffa- 
loes, and having a day of rare sport, we captured ten or 
twelve head of cattle, they being a portion of the herd 
which had been stampeded by the Indians two months be- 
fore. The next day we pulled out of the camp, and the 
train was strung out to a considerable length along the 
road which ran near the foot of the sand hills two miles 
from the river. Between the road and the river we saw a 
large herd of buffaloes grazing quietly, they having been 
down to the stream for a drink. 

Just at this time we observed a party of returning Cali- 
fornians coming from the West. They too noticed the 
buffalo herd, and in another moment they were dashing 
down upon them, urging their steeds to the greatest speed. 
The buffalo herd stampeded at once, and broke down the 
hills. So hotly were they pursued by the hunters that 
about five hundred of them rushed through our train pell- 
mell, frightening both men and oxen. Some of the wagons 

13 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

were turned clear around, and many of the terrified oxen 
attempted to run to the hills, with the heavy wagons at- 
tached to them. Others turned around so short that they 
broke the wagon tongues off. Nearly all the teams got 
entangled in their gearing, and became wild and unruly, 
so that the perplexed drivers were unable to manage them. 

The buffaloes, the cattle, and the drivers were soon run- 
ning in every direction, and the excitement upset nearly 
everybody and everything. Many of the cattle broke their 
yokes and stampeded. One big buffalo bull became en- 
tangled in one of the heavy wagon chains, and it is a fact 
that in his desperate efforts to free himself he not only 
actually snapped the strong chain in two, but broke the 
ox-yoke to which it was attached, and the last seen of him 
he was running toward the hills with it hanging from his 
horns. A dozen other equally remarkable incidents hap- 
pened during the short time that the frantic buffaloes were 
playing havoc with our train, and when they got through 
and left us our outfit was badly crippled and scattered. 
This caused us to go into camp and spend a day in re- 
placing the broken tongues and repairing other damages, 
and gathering up our scattered ox-teams. 

The next day we rolled out of camp, and proceeded on 

U 



Crossing the Plains 

our way toward the setting sun. Everything ran along 
smoothly with us from that point until we came within 
about eighteen miles of Green River, in the Kocky Moun- 
tains, where we camped at noon. At this place we had to 
drive our cattle about a mile and a half to a creek to water 
them. Simpson, his assistant George Wood, and myself, 
accompanied by the usual number of guards, drove the 
cattle over to the creek, and while on our way back to camp 
we suddenly observed a party of twenty horsemen rapidly 
approaching us. We were not ye a in view of our wagons, 
as a rise of ground intervened, and' therefore we could not 
signal the train-men in case of any unexpected danger be- 
falling us. We had no suspicion, however, that we were 
about to be trapped, as the strangers were white men. 
When they had come up to us, one of the party, who evi- 
dently was the leader, rode out in front, and said, 

" How are you, Mr. Simpson ?" 

" You've got the best of me, sir," said Simpson, who 
did not know him. 

" Well, I rather think I have," coolly replied the 
stranger, whose words conveyed a double meaning, as 
we soon learned. We had all come to a halt by this time, 
and the strange horsemen had surrounded us. They were 

15 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

all armed with double-barrelled shot-guns, rifles, and re- 
volvers. We also were armed with revolvers, but we had 
no idea of danger, and these men, much to our surprise, 
had " got the drop " on us, and had covered us with their 
weapons, so that we were completely at their mercy. 
The whole movement of corralling us was done so 
quietly and quickly that it was accomplished before we 
knew it. 

" I'll trouble you for your six-shooters, gentlemen," now 
said the leader. 

" I'll give 'em to you in a way you don't want," replied 
Simpson. 

The next moment three guns were levelled at Simpson. 
" If you make a move you are a dead man," said the 
leader. 

Simpson saw at a glance that he was taken at a great 
disadvantage, and thinking it advisable not to risk the 
lives of the party by any rash act on his part, he said, " I 
see now that you have the best of me; but who are you, 
anyhow ?" 

" I am Joe Smith," was the reply. 

" What ! the leader of the Danites ?" asked Simpson. 

" You are correct," said Smith, for he it was. 

16 



Crossing the Plains 

" Yes," said Simpson, " I know you now ; you are a 
spying scoundrel." 

Simpson had good reason for calling him this, for only 
a short time before this Joe Smith had visited our train 
in the disguise of a teamster, and had remained with 
us two days. lie suddenly disappeared, no one know- 
ing where he had gone or why he had come among us. 
But it was all explained to us, now that he had returned 
with his Mormon Danites. After they had disarmed us, 
Simpson asked, 

" Well, Smith, what are you going to do with us ?" 

" Ride back with us and I'll soon show you," said 
Smith. 

We had no idea of the surprise which awaited us. As 
we came upon the top of the ridge from which we could 
view our camp, we were astonished to see the remainder 
of the train-men disarmed and stationed in a group, and 
surrounded by another squad of Danites, while other Mor- 
mons were searching our wagons for such articles as they 
wanted. 

" How is this ?" inquired Simpson. " How did you 
surprise my camp without a struggle? I can't under- 
stand it." 

17 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

" Easily enough/' said Smith. " Your men were all 
asleep under the wagons, except the cooks, who saw us com- 
ing, and took us for returning Calif ornians or emigrants, 
and paid no attention to us until we rode up and surround- 
ed your train. With our arms covering the men, we woke 
them up, and told them all they had to do was to walk out 
and drop their pistols, which they saw was the best thing 
they could do under circumstances over which they had no 
control, and you can just bet they did it." 

" And what do you propose to do with us now ?" asked 
Simpson. 

" I intend to burn your train," said he. " You are 
loaded with supplies and ammunition for Sidney John- 
ston, and as I have no way to convey the stuff to my own 
people, I'll see that it does not reach the United States 
troops." 

" Are you going to turn us adrift here ?" asked Simpson, 
who was anxious to learn what was to become of himself 
and his men. 

" No ; I am hardly as bad as that. I'll give you enough 
provisions to last you until you can reach Fort Bridger," 
replied Smith. " And as soon as your cooks can get the 
stuff out of the wagons you can start." 

18 



Crossing the Plains 

" On foot ?" was the laconic inquiry of Simpson. 

" Yes, sir," was the equally short reply. 

" Smith, that's too rough on us men. Put yourself in 
our place, and see how you would like it," said Simpson. 
" You can well afford to give us at least one wagon and 
six yokes of oxen to convey us and our clothing and pro- 
visions to Fort Bridger. You're a brute if you don't do 
this." 

" Well," said Smith, after consulting a minute or two 
with some of his company, " I'll do that much for you." 

The cattle and the wagon were brought up according to 
his orders, and the clothing and provisions were loaded on. 

" Now you can go," said Smith, after everything had 
been arranged. 

" Joe Smith, I think you are a mean coward to set us 
afloat in a hostile country without giving us our arms," 
said Simpson, who had once before asked for the weapons, 
and had had his request denied. 

Smith, after further consultation with his comrades, 
said : " Simpson, you are too brave a man to be turned 
adrift here without any means of defence. You shall have 
your revolvers and guns." 

Our weapons were accordingly handed over to Simpson, 

19 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

and we at once started for Fort Bridger, knowing that it 
would be useless to attempt the recapture of the train. 

When we had travelled about two miles we saw the 
smoke arising from our old camp. The Mormons, after 
taking what goods they wanted and could carry off, had 
set fire to the wagons, many of which were loaded with 
bacon, lard, hardtack, and other provisions, which made a 
very hot, fierce fire, and the smoke to roll up in dense 
clouds. Some of the wagons were loaded with ammuni- 
tion, and it was not long before loud explosions followed 
in rapid succession. We waited and witnessed the burn- 
ing of the train, and then pushed on to Fort Bridger. Ar- 
riving at this post, we learned that two other trains had 
been captured and destroyed in the same way by the Mor- 
mons. This made seventy-five wagon-loads, or four hun- 
dred and fifty thousand pounds of supplies, mostly pro- 
visions, which never reached General Johnston's com- 
mand, to which they had been consigned. 

After reaching the fort, it being far in November, we 
decided to spend the winter there, with about four hundred 
other employes of Kussell, Majors & Waddell, rather than 
attempt a return, which would have exposed us to many 
dangers and the severity of the rapidly approaching win- 

20 



Crossing the Plains 

ter. During this period of hibernation, however, the lard- 
ers of the commissary became so depleted that we were 
placed on one-quarter rations, and at length, as a final 
resort, the poor, dreadfully emaciated mules and oxen were 
killed to afford sustenance for our famishing party. 

Fort Bridger being located in a prairie, all fuel there 
used had to be carried for a distance of nearly two miles, 
and after our mules and oxen were butchered, we had no 
other recourse than to carry the wood on our backs or haul 
it on sleds — a very tedious and laborious alternative. 

Starvation was beginning to lurk about the post when 
spring approached, and but for the timely arrival of a 
westward-bound train loaded with provisions for John- 
ston's army some of our party must certainly have fallen 
victims to deadly hunger. 

The winter finally passed away, and early in the spring, 
as soon as we could travel, the civil employes of the gov- 
ernment, with the teamsters and freighters, started for the 
Missouri River, the Johnston expedition having been aban- 
doned. 

On the way up we stopped at Fort Laramie, and there 
met a supply-train bound westward. Of course we all had 
a square meal once more, consisting of hardtack, bacon, 

21 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

coffee, and beans. I can honestly say that I thought it 
was the best meal that I had ever eaten ; at least I relished 
it more than any other, and I think the rest of the party 
did the same. 

On leaving Fort Laramie, Simpson was made brigadier 
wagon-master, and was put in charge of two large trains, 
with about four hundred extra men who were bound for 
Fort Leavenworth. When we came to Ash Hollow, in- 
stead of taking the usual trail over to the South Platte, 
Simpson concluded to follow the North Platte down to its 
junction with the South Platte. The two trains were 
travelling about fifteen miles apart, when one morning, 
while Simpson was with the rear train, he told his assist- 
ant wagon-master George Wood and myself to saddle up 
our mules, as he wanted us to go with him and overtake the 
head train. 

We started off at about eleven o'clock, and had ridden 
about seven miles, when, while we were on a big plateau 
back of Cedar Bluffs, we suddenly discovered a band of 
Indians coming out of the head of the ravine half a mile 
distant, and charging down upon us at full speed. I 
thought that our end had come this time. Simpson, how- 
ever, was equal to the occasion, for with wonderful prompt- 

22 



Crossing the Plains 

ness he jumped from his jaded mule, and in a trice shot 
his own animal and ours also, and ordered us to assist 
him to jerk their bodies into a triangle. This being quickly 
done, we got inside the barricade of mule-flesh, and were 
prepared to receive the Indians. We were each armed 
with a Mississippi yager and two revolvers, and as the 
Indians came swooping down on our improvised fort, we 
opened fire with such good effect that three fell dead at the 
first volley. This caused them to retreat out of range, as 
with two exceptions they were armed with bows and ar- 
rows, and therefore to approach near enough to do execu- 
tion would expose at least several of them to certain death. 
Seeing that they could not take our little fortification or 
drive us from it, they circled around several times, shoot- 
ing their arrows at us. One of these struck George Wood 
in the left shoulder, inflicting only a slight wound, how- 
ever, and several lodged in the bodies of the dead mules; 
otherwise they did us no harm. The Indians finally gal- 
loped off to a safe distance, where our bullets could not 
reach them, and seemed to be holding a council. This 
was a lucky move for us, for it gave us an opportunity to 
reload our guns and pistols and prepare for the next charge 
of the enemy. During the brief cessation of hostilities 

23 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

Simpson extracted the arrow from Wood's shoulder, and 
put an immense quid of tobacco on the wound. Wood was 
then ready for business again. 

The Indians did not give us a very long rest, for with 
another desperate charge, as if to ride over us, they came 
dashing toward the mule barricade. We gave them a hot 
reception from our yagers and revolvers. They could not 
stand or understand the rapidly repeating fire of the re- 
volver, and we checked them again. They circled around 
us once more, and gave us a few parting shots as they rode 
off, leaving behind them another dead Indian and a horse. 

For two hours afterward they did not seem to be doing 
anything but holding a council. We made good use of 
this time by digging up the ground inside the barricade 
with our knives, and throwing the loose earth around and 
over the mules, and we soon had a very respectable fortifi- 
cation. We were not troubled any more that day, but 
during the night the cunning rascals tried to burn us out 
by setting fire to the prairie. The buffalo-grass was so 
short that the fire did not trouble us much, but the smoke 
concealed the Indians from our view, and they thought 
they could approach close to us without being seen. We 
were aware of this, and kept a sharp lookout, being pre- 

24 



Crossing the Plains 

pared all the time to receive them. They finally abandoned 
the idea of surprising us. 

~Next morning, bright and early, they gave us one more 
grand charge, and again we " stood them off." They then 
rode away half a mile or so, and formed a circle around 
us. Each man dismounted and sat down, as if to wait and 
starve us out. They had evidently seen the advance train 
pass on the morning of the previous day, and believed 
that we belonged to that outfit, and were trying to over- 
take it. They had no idea that another train was on its 
way after us. 

Our hopes of escape from this unpleasant and perilous 
situation now depended upon the arrival of the rear train, 
and when we saw that the Indians were going to besiege 
us instead of renewing their attacks, we felt rather confi- 
dent of receiving timely assistance. We had expected that 
the train would be along late in the afternoon of the 
previous day, and as the morning wore away we were 
somewhat anxious and uneasy at its non-arrival. 

At last, about ten o'clock, we began to hear in the dis- 
tance the loud and sharp reports of the big bull-whips, 
which were handled with great dexterity by the teamsters, 
and cracked like rifle-shots. These were as welcome sounds 

25 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

to us as were the notes of the bag-pipes to the besieged 
garrison at Lucknow when the re-enforcements were com- 
ing up, and the pipers were heard playing " The Camp- 
bells are Coming." In a few moments we saw the head 
wagon coming slowly over the ridge which had concealed 
the train from our view, and soon the whole outfit made 
its appearance. The Indians observed the approaching 
train, and assembling in a group, they held a short con- 
sultation. They then charged upon us once more, for the 
last time, and as they turned and dashed away over the 
prairie, we sent our farewell shots rattling after them. 
The teamsters, seeing the Indians and hearing the shots, 
came rushing forward to our assistance, but by that time 
the redskins had almost disappeared from view. The team- 
sters eagerly asked us a hundred questions concerning our 
fight, admired our fort, and praised our pluck. Simpson's 
remarkable presence of mind in planning the defence was 
the general topic of conversation among all the men. 

When the teams came up we obtained some water and 
bandages with which to dress Wood's wound, which had 
become quite inflamed and painful, and we then put him 
into one of the wagons. Simpson and myself obtained a 
remount, bade good-by to our dead mules which had served 

26 



Crossing the Plains 

us so well, and after collecting the ornaments and other 
plunder from the dead Indians, we left their bodies and 
bones to bleach on the prairie. The train moved on again, 
and we had no other adventures, except several exciting 
buffalo-hunts on the South Platte near Plum Creek. 



II 

Rounding Up Indians 

IN October, 1867, General Sheridan organized an expedi- 
tion to operate against the Indians who infested the 
Kepnblican River region. " Cody/' said he, " I have de- 
cided to appoint you as guide and chief of scouts with the 
command. How does that suit you ?" 

" First rate, General, and thank you for the honor/' 
I replied, as gracefully as I knew how. 

The Dog Soldier Indians were a band of Cheyennes and 
unruly, turbulent members of other tribes, who would not 
enter into any treaty, or keep a treaty if they made one, 
and who had always refused to go upon a reservation. 
They were a warlike body of well-built, daring, and rest- 
less braves, and were determined to hold possession of the 
country in the vicinity of the Republican and Solomon 
rivers. They were called " Dog Soldiers " because they 
were principally Cheyennes — a name derived from the 
French cliien, a dog. 

28 



Rounding Up Indians 

On the 3d of October, the Fifth Cavalry arrived at Fort 
Hays. General Sheridan, being anxious to punish the 
Indians who had lately fought General Forsyth, did not 
give the regiment much of a rest, and accordingly on the 
5th of October it began' its march for the Beaver Creek 
country. The first night we camped on the south fork of 
Big Creek, four miles west of Hays City. By this time I 
had become pretty well acquainted with Major Brown and 
Captain Sweetman, who invited me to mess with them on 
this expedition, and a jolly mess we had. There were other 
scouts in the command besides myself, and I particularly 
remember Tom Eenahan, Hank Fields, and a character 
called " T^osey," on account of his long nose. 

The next day we marched thirty miles, and late in the 
afternoon we came into camp on the south fork of the 
Solomon. At this encampment Colonel Koyal asked me 
to go out and kill some buffaloes for the boys. 

" All right, Colonel ; send along a wagon or two to bring 
in the meat," I said. 

" I am not in the habit of sending out my wagons until 

I know that there is something to be hauled in ; kill your 

buffaloes first, and then Fll send out the wagons," was the 

Colonel's reply. I said no more, but went out on a hunt, 

3 29 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

and after a short absence returned and asked the Colonel 
to send ont his wagons over the hill for the half-dozen 
buffaloes I had killed. 

The following afternoon he again requested me to go out 
and get some fresh buffalo meat. I didn't ask him for any 
wagons this time, but rode out some distance, and coming 
up with a small herd I managed to get seven of them 
headed straight for the encampment, and instead of shoot- 
ing them just then, I ran them at full speed right into the 
camp, and then killed them all, one after another, in rapid 
succession. Colonel Royal witnessed the whole proceeding, 
which puzzled him somewhat, as he could see no reason 
why I had not killed them on the prairie. He came up 
rather angrily, and demanded an explanation. 

" I can't allow any such business as this, Cody," said 
he. " What do you mean by it V 

" I didn't care about asking for any wagons this time, 
Colonel, so I thought I would make the buffaloes furnish 
their own transportation," was my reply. The Colonel 
saw the point in a moment, and had no more to say on the 
subject. 

"No Indians had been seen in the vicinity during the 
day, and Colonel Royal, having carefully posted his pick- 

30 



Rounding Up Indians 

ets, supposed everything was serene for the night. But 
before morning we were aroused from our slumbers by 
hearing shots fired, and immediately afterward one of the 
mounted pickets came galloping into camp, saying that 
there were Indians close at hand. The companies all fell 
into line, and were soon prepared and anxious to give the 
redskins battle ; but as the men were yet new in the Indian 
country a great many of them were considerably excited. 
!N"o Indians, however, made their appearance, and upon 
going to the picket-post where the picket said he had seen 
them none could be found, nor could any traces of them 
be discovered. The sentinel, who was an Irishman, in- 
sisted that there had certainly been redskins there. 

" But you must be mistaken/' said Colonel Royal. 

" Upon me sowl, Colonel, I'm not. As shure ez me 
name's Pat Maloney, one of them redskins hit me on the 
head with a club, so he did," said Pat. 

And so when morning came the mystery was further 
investigated, and was easily solved. Elk tracks were 
found in the vicinity, and it was undoubtedly a herd of 
elks that had frightened Pat. As he had turned to run 
he had gone under a limb of a tree against which he hit 
his head, and supposed he had been struck by a club in the 

31 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

hands of an Indian. It was hard to convince Pat, however, 
of the truth. 

A three days' uninteresting march brought us to Beaver 
Creek, where we were camped, and from which point 
scouting parties were sent out in different directions. 
ISTone of these, however, discovering Indians, they all 
returned to camp about the same time, rinding it in a state 
of great excitement, it having been attacked a few hours 
previous by a party of Indians, who had succeeded in 
killing two men and in making off with sixty horses be- 
longing to Company II. 

That evening the command started on the trail of these 
Indian horse-thieves, Major Brown with two companies 
and three days' rations pushing ahead in advance of the 
main command. Being unsuccessful, however, in over- 
taking the Indians, and getting nearly out of provisions — 
it being our eighteenth day out — the entire command 
marched toward the nearest railway point, and camped on 
the Saline River, distant three miles from Buffalo Tank. 
While waiting for supplies we received a new commanding 
officer, Brevet Major-General E. A. Carr, who was the 
senior major of the regiment, and who ranked Colonel 
Royal. He brought with him the celebrated Forsyth 

32 



Rounding Up Indians 

scouts, who were commanded by Lieutenant Pepoon, a 
regular army officer. 

The next morning, at an early hour, the command start- 
ed out on a hunt for Indians. General Carr, having a 
pretty good idea where he would be most likely to find 
them, directed me to guide him by the nearest route to 
Elephant Rock on Beaver Creek. Upon arriving at the 
south fork of the Beaver on the second day's march, we 
discovered a large fresh Indian trail, which we hurriedly 
followed for a distance of eight miles, when suddenly we 
saw on the bluffs ahead of us quite a large number of Ind- 
ians. 

General Carr ordered Lieutenant Pepoon's scouts and 
Company M to the front. This company was commanded 
by Lieutenant Schinosky, a Frenchman by birth and reck- 
less by nature. Having advanced his company nearly a 
mile ahead of the main command, about four hundred 
Indians suddenly charged down upon him and gave him 
a lively little fight, until he was supported by our full 
force. The Indians kept increasing in numbers all the 
while, until it was estimated that we were fighting from 
eight hundred to one thousand of them. The engagement 
became quite general, and several were killed and wounded 

33 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

on each side. The Indians were evidently fighting to give 
their families and village a chance to get away. We had 
undoubtedly surprised them with a larger force than they 
had expected to see in that part of the country. We fought 
them until dark, all the time driving them before us. At 
night they annoyed us considerably by firing down into 
our camp from the higher hills, and several times the com- 
mand was ordered to dislodge them from their position 
and drive them back. 

After having returned from one of these sallies, Major 
Brown, Captain Sweetman, Lieutenant Bache, and myself 
were taking supper together, when "whang!" came a 
bullet into Lieutenant Bache's plate, breaking a hole 
through it. The bullet came from the gun of one of the 
Indians, who had returned to the high bluff overlooking 
our camp. Major Brown declared it was a crack shot, 
because it broke the plate. We finished our supper with- 
out having any more such close calls. 

At daylight next morning we struck out on the trail, 
and soon came to the spot where the Indians had camped 
the day before. We could see that their village was a very 
large one, consisting of about five hundred lodges ; and we 
pushed forward rapidly from this point on the trail which 

34 



Rounding Up Indians 

ran back toward Prairie Dog Creek. About two o'clock 
we came in sight of the retreating village, and soon the 
warriors turned back to give us battle. They set fire to 
the prairie-grass in front of us and on all sides in order 
to delay us as much as possible. We kept up a running- 
fight for the remainder of the afternoon, and the Indians 
repeatedly attempted to lead us off the track of their 
flying village, but their trail was easily followed, as they 
were continually dropping tepee-poles, camp-kettles, robes, 
furs, and all heavy articles belonging to them. They were 
evidently scattering, and it finally became difficult for us 
to keep on the main trail. When darkness set in we went 
into camp, it being useless to try to follow the Indians after 
nightfall. 

!N"ext morning we were again on the trail. The Indians 
soon scattered in every direction, but we followed the main 
trail to the Republican River, where we made a cut-off, 
and then went north toward the Platte Piver. We found, 
however, that the Indians by travelling night and day had 
got a long start, and the General concluded that it was 
useless to follow them any farther. 

The General told me that the next day's march would 
be toward the head-waters of the Beaver, and he asked me 

35 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

the distance. I replied that it was about twenty-five miles, 
and he said he would make it the next day. Getting an 
early start in the morning, we struck out across the 
prairie, my position as guide being ahead of the advance- 
guard. About two o'clock General Carr overtook me, and 
asked how far I supposed it was to water. I thought it was 
about eight miles, although we could see no sign or indica- 
tion of any stream in front. 

" Pepoon's scouts say you are going in the wrong direc- 
tion," said the General ; " and in the way you are bearing 
it will be fifteen miles before you can strike any of the 
branches of the Beaver; and that when you do, you will 
find no water, for the Beavers are dry at this time of year 
at that point." 

" General, I think the scouts are mistaken," said I, 
" for the Beaver has more water near its head than it has 
below ; and at the place where we will strike the stream we 
will find immense beaver dams, large enough and strong 
enough to cross the whole command, if you wish." 

" Well, Cody, go ahead," said he ; " I'll leave it to you ; 
but remember that I don't want a dry camp." 

" No danger of that," said I ; and then I rode on, leav- 
ing him to return to the command. As I had predicted, 

3G 



Rounding Up Indians 

we found water seven or eight miles farther on, where 
we came upon a beautiful little stream, a tributary of the 
Beaver, hidden in the hills. We had no difficulty in select- 
ing a good halting-place, and obtaining fresh spring-water 
and grass. The General, upon learning from me that the 
stream — which was only eight or nine miles long — had no 
name, took out his map and located it, and named it Cody's 
Creek, which name it still bears. 

We pulled out early next morning for the Beaver, and 
when we were approaching the stream I rode on ahead 
of the advance-guard, in order to find the crossing. Just 
as I turned a bend of the creek, " bang!" went a shot, and 
down went my horse — myself with him. I disentangled 
myself, and jumped behind the dead body. Looking in 
the direction whence the shot had come I saw two Indians, 
and at once turned my gun loose on them, but in the ex- 
citement of the moment I missed my aim. They fired two 
or three more shots, and T returned the compliment, wound- 
ing one of their horses. 

On the opposite side of the creek, going over the hill, 
I observed a few lodges moving rapidly away, and also 
some mounted warriors, who could see me, and who kept 
blazing away with their guns. The two Indians who had 

37 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

fired at ine, and had killed my horse, were retreating across 
the creek on a beaver dam. I sent a few shots after them 
to accelerate their speed, and also fired at the ones on the 
other side of the stream. I was undecided as to whether 
it was best to rnn back to the command on foot or hold my 
position. I knew that within a few minutes the troops 
would come up, and I therefore decided to hold my posi- 
tion. The Indians, seeing that I was alone, turned, and 
charged down the hill, and were about to recross the 
creek to corral me, when the advance-guard of the com- 
mand put in an appearance on the ridge, and dashed 
forward to my rescue. The redskins whirled and 
made off. 

When General Carr came up, he ordered Company 
I to go in pursuit of the band. I accompanied Lieu- 
tenant Brady, who commanded, and we had a runn- 
ing fight with the Indians, lasting several hours. We 
captured several head of their horses and most of their 
lodges. At night we returned to the command, 
which by this time had crossed the creek on the beaver 
■dam. 

We scouted for several days along the river, and had 
two or three lively skirmishes. Finally our supplies began 

38 



Rounding Up Indians 

to run low, and General Carr gave orders to return to Fort 
Wallace, which we reached three days afterward, and 
where we remained several days. 

Very soon after General Carr received orders from 
General Sheridan for a winter's campaign in the Canadian 
River country, instructing him to proceed at once to Fort 
Lyon, Colorado, and there to fit out for the expedition. 
Leaving Fort Wallace in November, 1868, we arrived at 
Fort Lyon in the latter part of the month without special 
incident, and at once began our preparations for invading 
the enemy's country. General Penrose had left this post 
three weeks previously with a command of some three 
hundred men. He had taken no wagons with him, and his 
supply-train was composed only of pack-mules. General 
Carr was ordered to follow with supplies on his trail and 
overtake him as soon as possible. I was particularly 
anxious to catch up with Penrose's command, as my old 
friend Wild Bill was among his scouts. We followed the 
trail very easily for the first three days, and then we were 
caught in Freeze-Out Canyon by a fearful snow-storm, 
which compelled us to go into camp for a day. The ground 
now being covered with snow, we found it would be impos- 
sible to follow Penrose's trail any farther, especially as he 

39 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

had left no sign to indicate the direction he was going. 
General Carr sent for me, and said that as it was very im- 
portant that we should not lose the trail, he wished that I 
would take some scouts with me, and while the command 
remained in camp, push on as far as possible, and see if 
I could not discover some traces of Penrose or where he 
had camped at any time. 

Accompanied by four men, I started out in the blinding 
snow-storm, taking a southerly direction. We rode twenty- 
four miles, and upon reaching a tributary of the Cimarron, 
we scouted up and down the stream for a few miles, and 
finally found one of Penrose's old camps. It was now late 
in the afternoon, and as the command would come up the 
next day, it was not necessary for all of us to return 
with the information to General Carr. So riding clown 
into a sheltered place in a bend of the creek, we built 
a fire and broiled some venison from a deer which we 
had shot during the day, and after eating a substantial 
meal, I left the four men there while I returned to bring 
up the troops. 

It was eleven o'clock at night when I got back to the 
camp. A light was still burning in the General's tent, he 
having remained awake, anxiously awaiting my return. 

40 



Rounding Up Indians 

He was glad to see me, and was overjoyed at the informa- 
tion I brought, for he had great fears concerning the safety 
of General Penrose. 

The command took np its march next day for the Cimar- 
ron, and had a hard tramp of it on account of the snow 
having drifted to a great depth in many of the ravines, 
and in some places the teamsters had to shovel their way 
through. We arrived at the Cimarron at sundown, and 
went into camp. Upon looking around next morning, we 
found that Penrose, having been unencumbered by wagons, 
had kept on the west side of the Cimarron, and the country 
was so rough that it was impossible for us to stay on his 
trail with our wagons; but knowing that we would cer- 
tainly follow down the river, General Carr concluded to 
take the best wagon route along the stream, which I dis- 
covered to be on the east side. Before we could make any 
headway with our wagon-train we had to leave the river 
and get out on the divide. We were very fortunate that 
day in finding a splendid road for some distance, until we 
were all at once brought to a standstill on a high table- 
land, overlooking a beautiful winding creek that lay far 
below us in the valley. The question that troubled us was 
how we were to get the wagons down. We were now in the 

41 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

foot-hills of the Rattoon Mountains, and the bluff we were 
on was very steep. 

" Cody, we're in a nice fix now," said General Carr. 

" Oh, that's nothing," was my reply. 

" But you can never take the train down," said he. 

" Never you mind the train, General. You say you are 
looking for a good camp. How does that beautiful spot 
down in the valley suit you ?" I asked him. 

" That will do. I can easily descend with the cavalry, 
but how to get the wagons down there is a puzzler to me," 
said he. 

" By the time you are located in your camp, your 
wagons shall be there," said I. 

" All right, Cody, I'll leave it to you, as you seem to 
want to be boss," he replied, pleasantly. He at once 
ordered the command to dismount and lead the horses 
clown the mountain-side. The wagon-train was a mile in 
the rear, and when it came up one of the drivers asked, 
" How are we going down there ?" 

" Run down, slide down, or fall down ; any way to get 
down," said I. 

" We can never do it ; it's too steep ; the wagons will 
run over the mules," said another wagon-master. 

42 



Rounding Up Indians 

" I guess not ; the mules have got to keep out of the 
way," was my reply. 

I told Wilson, the chief wagon-master, to bring on his 
mess-wagon, which was at the head of the train, and I 
would try the experiment at least. Wilson drove the team 
and wagon to the brink of the hill, and following my direc- 
tions he brought out some extra chains with which we 
locked the wheels on each side, and then rough-locked them. 
We now started the wagon down the hill. The wheel- 
horses — or rather the wheel-mules — were good on the hold 
back, and we got along finely until we nearly reached the 
bottom, when the wagon crowded the mules so hard that 
they started on a run and galloped down into the valley 
and to the place where General Carr had located his camp. 
Three other wagons immediately followed in the same 
way, and in half an hour every wagon was in camp, with- 
out the least accident having occurred. It was indeed an 
exciting sight to see the six mule-teams come straight down 
the mountain and finally break into a full run. At times 
it looked as if the wagons would turn a somersault and 
land on the mules. 

This proved to be a lucky march for us, as far as gain- 
ing on Penrose was concerned ; for the route he had taken 

43 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

on the west side of the stream turned out to be a bad one, 
and we went with our immense wagon-train as far in one 
day as Penrose had in seven. His command had marched 
on to a plateau or high table-land so steep that not even a 
pack-mule could descend it, and he was obliged to retrace 
his steps a long way, thus losing three days' time, as we 
afterward learned. 

From this point on, for several days, we had no trouble 
in following Penrose's trail, which led us in a south- 
easterly direction toward the Canadian River. No Indians 
were seen, nor any signs of them found. One day, while 
riding in advance of the command down San Francisco 
Creek, I heard some one calling my name from a little 
bunch of willow brush on the opposite bank, and upon look- 
ing closely at the spot, I saw a negro. 

" Sakes alive ! Massa Bill, am dat you ?" asked the 
man, whom I recognized as one of the colored soldiers of 
the Tenth Cavalry. I next heard him say to some one 
in the brush : " Come out o' heah. Dar's Massa Buffalo 
Bill." Then he sang out, " Massa Bill, is you got any 
hawdtack ?" 

" Nary a hardtack ; but the wagons will be along pres- 
ently, and then you can get all you want," said I. 

44 



Rounding Up Indians 

" Dat's cle best news Fs heerd foah sixteen long days, 
Massa Bill," said he. 

" Where's your command ? Where's General Penrose ?" 
I asked. 

" I dun'noV said the darky ; " we got lost and we's been 
starvin' eber since." 

By this time two other negroes had emerged from their 
place of concealment. They had deserted Penrose's com- 
mand — which was out of rations and nearly in a starv- 
ing condition — and were trying to make their way back 
to Port Lyon. General Carr concluded, from what 
they could tell him, that General Penrose was some- 
where on Palladora Creek; but we could not learn any- 
thing definite, for they knew not where they were them- 
selves. 

Having learned that General Penrose's troops were in 
such bad shape, General Carr ordered Major Brown to 
start out the next morning with two companies of cavalry 
and fifty pack-mules loaded with provisions, and to make 
all possible speed to reach and relieve the suffering soldiers. 
I accompanied this detachment, and on the third day out 
we found the half-famished soldiers camped on the Palla- 
dora. The camp presented a pitiful sight, indeed. For 
4 45 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

over two weeks the men had had only quarter-rations, and 
were now nearly starved to death. Over two hundred 
horses and mules were lying dead, having died from 
fatigue and starvation. General Penrose, fearing that 
General Carr would not find him, had sent back a com- 
pany of the Seventh Cavalry to Fort Lyon for supplies; 
hut no word had as yet been heard from them. The 
rations which Major Brown brought to the command 
came none too soon, and were the means of saving many 
lives. 

General Carr, upon arriving with his force, took com- 
mand of all the troops, he being the senior officer and rank- 
ing General Penrose. After selecting a good camp, he un- 
loaded the wagons and sent them back to Fort Lyon for 
fresh supplies. He then picked out five hundred of the 
best men and horses, and, taking his pack-train with him, 
started south for the Canadian River, leaving the rest of 
the troops at the supply-camp. 

For several days we scouted along the Canadian River, 
but found no signs of Indians. General Carr then went 
back to his camp, and soon afterward our wagon-train 
came in from Fort Lyon with a fresh load of provisions. 
At length, our horses and mules having become sufficiently 

46 



Rounding Up Indians 

recruited to travel, we returned to Fort Lyon, arriving 
there in March, 1869, where the command was to rest and 
recruit for thirty days before proceeding to the Department 
of the Platte, whither it had been ordered. 



Ill 

Pursuing the Sioux 

WHEN" the Fifth Cavalry was ordered to the De- 
partment of the Platte, we moved from Fort Wallace 
clown to Sheridan, and in a few days started on another 
expedition after the hostile Indians. The second day out, 
on reaching the North Fork of the Beaver and riding down 
the valley toward the stream, I suddenly discovered a 
large fresh Indian trail. On examination I found it to 
be scattered all over the valley on both sides of the creek, 
as if a very large village had recently passed that way. 
Judging from the size of the trail, I thought that there 
could not be less than four hundred lodges, or between 
twenty-five hundred and three thousand warriors, women, 
and children in the band. I galloped back to the command, 
distant about three miles, and reported the news to General 
Carr, who halted the regiment, and after consulting a few 
minutes, ordered me to select a ravine, or as low ground as 

48 



Pursuing the Sioux 

possible, so that he could keep the troops out of sight until 
we could strike the creek. 

We went into camp on the Beaver, and the General 
ordered Lieutenant Ward to take twelve men and myself 
and follow up the trail for several miles, and find out how 
fast the Indians were travelling. I was soon convinced, 
by the many camps they had made, that they were travel- 
ling slowly, and hunting as they journeyed. We went 
down the Beaver on this scout about twelve miles, keeping 
our horses well concealed under the banks of the creek, 
so as not to be discovered. 

At this point, Lieutenant Ward and myself, leaving our 
horses behind us, crawled to the top of a high knoll, where 
we could have a good view for some miles distant down 
the stream. We peeped over the summit of the hill, and 
not over three miles away Ave could see a whole Indian 
village in plain sight, and thousands of ponies grazing 
around on the prairie. Looking over to our left, on the 
opposite side of the creek we observed two or three parties 
of Indians coining in, loaded down with buffalo meat. 

" This is no place for us, Lieutenant," said I ; " I think 
we have important business at the camp to attend to as 
soon as possible." 

49 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

" I agree with you," said he, " and the quicker we get 
there the better it will be for us." 

We quickly descended the hill and joined the men 
below. Lieutenant Ward hurriedly wrote a note to Gen- 
eral Carr, and handing it to a corporal, ordered him to 
make all possible haste back to the command and deliver 
the message. The man started off on a gallop, and Lieu- 
tenant Ward said, " We will inarch slowly back until we 
meet the troops, as I think the General will soon be here, 
for he will start immediately upon receiving my note." 

In a few minutes we heard two or three shots in the 
direction in which our despatch-courier had gone, and soon 
after we saw him come running around the bend of the 
creek, pursued by four or five Indians. The Lieutenant, 
with his squad of soldiers and myself, at once charged 
upon them, when they turned and ran across the stream. 

" This will not do," said Lieutenant Ward ; " the whole 
Indian village will now know that soldiers are near by." 

" Lieutenant, give me that note, and I will take it to 
the General," said I. 

He gladly handed me the despatch, and spurring my 
horse I dashed up the creek. After having ridden a short 
distance, I observed another party of Indians, also going 

50 



Pursuing the Sioux 

to the village with meat ; but instead of waiting for them 
to fire upon me, I gave them a shot at long range. Seeing 
one man firing at them so boldly, it surprised them, and 
they did not know what to make of it. While they were 
thus considering, I got between them and our camp. By 
this time they had recovered from their surprise, and cut- 
ting their buffalo meat loose from their horses, they came 
after me at the top of their speed ; but as their steeds were 
tired out, it did not take me long to leave them far in 
the rear. 

I reached the command in less than an hour, delivered 
the despatch to General Carr, and informed him of what I 
had seen. He instantly had the bugler sound " boots and 
saddles," and all the troops, with the exception of two 
companies which we left to guard the train, were soon 
galloping in the direction of the Indian camp. 

We had ridden about three miles, when we met Lieu- 
tenant Ward, who was coming slowly toward us. He re- 
ported that he had run into a party of Indian buffalo- 
hunters, and had killed one of the number, and had had 
one of his horses wounded. We immediately pushed 
forward, and after marching about five miles came within 
sight of hundreds of mounted Indians advancing up the 

51 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

creek to meet us. They formed a complete line in front 
of us. General Carr, being desirous of striking their vil- 
lage, ordered the troops to charge, break through their line, 
and keep straight on. This movement would no doubt 
have been successfully accomplished had it not been for the 
rattle-brained and dare-devil French Lieutenant Schi- 
nosky, commanding Company B, who, misunderstanding 
General Carr's orders, charged upon some Indians at the 
left, while the rest of the command dashed through the 
enemy's line, and was keeping straight on, when it was 
observed that Schinosky and his company were surrounded 
by four or five hundred redskins. The General, to save 
the company, was obliged to sound a halt and charge back 
to the rescue. The company during this short fight had 
several men and quite a number of horses killed. 

All this took up valuable time, and night was coming 
on. The Indians were fighting desperately to keep us 
from reaching their village, which, being informed by 
couriers of what was taking place, was packing up and 
getting away. During that afternoon it was all that we 
could do to hold our own in fighting the mounted warriors, 
who were in our front and contesting every inch of the 
ground. The General had left word for our wagon-train 

52 



Pursuing the Sioux 

to follow up with its escort of two companies, but as it had 
not made its appearance, he entertained some fears that 
it had been surrounded, and to prevent the possible loss of 
the supply-train we had to go back and look for it. About 
nine o'clock that evening we found it and went into camp 
for the night. 

Early the next day we broke camp and passed down the 
creek, but there was not an Indian to be seen. They had 
all disappeared and gone on with their village. Two miles 
farther we came to where a village had been located, and 
here we found nearly everything belonging to or pertaining 
to an Indian camp, which had been left in the great hurry 
to get away. These articles were all gathered up and 
burned. We then pushed out on the trail as fast as pos- 
sible. It led us to the northeast toward the Republican; 
but as the Indians had a night the start of us, we enter- 
tained but little hope of overtaking them that day. Upon 
reaching the Republican in the afternoon the General 
called a halt, and as the trail was running more to the east, 
he concluded to send his wagon-train on to Tort McPher- 
son by the most direct route, while he would follow on the 
trail of the redskins. 

Next morning at daylight we again pulled out ? and were 

53 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

evidently gaining rapidly on the Indians, for we could 
occasionally see them in the distance. About eleven 
o'clock that day, while Major Babcock was ahead of the 
main command with his company, and while we were 
crossing a deep ravine, we were surprised by about three 
hundred warriors, who commenced a lively fire upon us. 
Galloping out of the ravine on to the rough prairie, the 
men dismounted and returned the fire. We soon succeeded 
in driving the Indians before us, and were so close to 
them at one time that they abandoned and threw away 
nearly all their lodges and camp equipage, and everything 
that had any considerable weight. They left behind them 
their played-out horses, and for miles we could see Indian 
furniture strewn along in every direction. The trail be- 
came divided, and the Indians scattered in small bodies 
all over the prairie. As night was approaching and our 
horses were about giving out, a halt was called. A com- 
pany was detailed to collect all the Indian horses running 
loose over the country, and to burn the other Indian prop- 
erty. 

The command being nearly out of rations, I was sent 
to the nearest point, old Fort Kearny, about sixty miles 
distant, for supplies. 

54 



Pursuing the Sioux 

Shortly after we reached Fort McPherson, which con- 
tinued to be the headquarters of the Fifth Cavalry for 
some time, we fitted out for a new expedition to the Re- 
publican River country, and were re-enforced by three 
companies of the celebrated Pawnee Indian scouts, com- 
manded by Major Frank North. General Carr recom- 
mended at this time to General Augur, who was in com- 
mand of the department, that I be made chief of scouts 
in the Department of the Platte, and informed me that in 
this position I would receive higher wages than I had been 
getting in the Department of the Missouri. This appoint- 
ment I had not asked for. 

I made the acquaintance of Major Frank North, and I 
found him and his officers perfect gentlemen, and we were 
all good friends from the very start. The Pawnee scouts 
had made quite a reputation for themselves, as they had 
performed brave and valuable services in fighting against 
the Sioux, whose bitter enemies they were; being thor- 
oughly acquainted with the Republican and Beaver coun- 
try, I was glad that they were to be with the expedition, 
and my expectation of the aid they would render was not 
disappointed. 

During our stay at Fort McPherson I made the ac- 

55 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

quaintance of Lieutenant George P. Belden, known as the 
" White Chief." I found him to be an intelligent, dash- 
ing fellow, a splendid rider, and an excellent shot. An 
hour after our introduction he challenged me for a rifle 
match, the preliminaries of which were soon arranged. We 
were to shoot ten shots each for fifty dollars, at two hun- 
dred yards, off-hand. Belden was to use a Henry rifle, 
while I was to shoot my old " Lucretia." This match I 
won, and then Belden proposed to shoot a one-hundred-yard 
match, as I was shooting over his distance. In this match 
Belden was victorious. We were now even, and we stopped 
right there. 

While we were at this post General Augur and several 
of his officers paid us a visit for the purpose of reviewing 
the command. The regiment turned out in fine style and 
showed themselves to be well-drilled soldiers, thoroughly 
understanding military tactics. The Pawnee scouts were 
also reviewed, and it was very amusing to see them in 
their full regular uniform. They had been furnished a 
regulation cavalry uniform, and on this parade some of 
them had their heavy overcoats on, others their large black 
hats, with all the brass accoutrements attached; some of 
them were minus pantaloons, and only wore a breech-clout. 

56 



Pursuing the Sioux 

Others wore regulation pantaloons, but no shirts, and were 
bareheaded ; others again had the seat of the pantaloons cut 
out, leaving only leggings ; but for all this they seemed to 
understand the drill remarkably well for Indians. The 
commands, of course, were given to them in their own lan- 
guage by Major North, who could talk it as well as any 
full-blooded Pawnee. The Indians were well mounted, 
and felt proud and elated because they had been made 
United States soldiers. Major North had for years com- 
plete control over these Indians, and could do more with 
them than any man living. That evening, after the parade 
was over, the officers and quite a number of ladies visited a 
grand Indian dance given by the Pawnees, and of all the 
Indians I have seen, their dances excel those of any other 
tribe. 

Next day the command started. When encamped, sev- 
eral days after, on the Republican Piver, near the mouth 
of the Beaver, we heard the whoops of Indians, followed 
by shots in the vicinity of the mule herd, which had been 
taken down to water. One of the herders came dashing 
into camp with an arrow sticking into him. My horse 
was close at hand, and mounting him bareback, I at once 
dashed off after the mule herd, which had been stampeded. 

57 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

I supposed certainly that I would be the first man on the 
ground, but I was mistaken, however, for the Pawnee Ind- 
ians, unlike regular soldiers, had not waited to receive 
orders from their officers, but had jumped on their ponies 
without bridles or saddles, and placing ropes in their 
mouths, had dashed off in the direction whence the shots 
came, and had got there ahead of me. It proved to be a 
party of about fifty Sioux who had endeavored to stam- 
pede our mules, and it took them by surprise to see their 
inveterate enemies, the Pawnees, coming at full gallop at 
them. They were not aware that the Pawnees were with 
the command, and as they knew it would take regular 
soldiers some time to turn out, they thought they would 
have ample opportunity to secure the herd before the 
troops could give chase. 

We had a running fight of fifteen miles, and several of 
the enemy were killed. During this chase I was mounted 
on an excellent horse, which Colonel Royal had picked out 
for me, and for the first mile or two I was in advance of 
the Pawnees. Presently a Pawnee shot by me like an 
arrow, and I could not help admiring the horse he was 
riding. Seeing that he possessed rare running qualities, I 
determined to get possession of the animal in some way. 

58 



Pursuing ike Sioux 

It was a largo buckskin or yellow horse, and I took a care- 
ful view of him, so that I would know him when I return- 
ed to camp. 

After the chase was over I rode up to Major North and 
inquired about the buckskin horse. 

" Oh yes," said the Major ; " that is one of our favorite 
steeds." 

" What chance is there to trade for him V I asked. 

" It is a government horse," said he, " and the Indian 
who is riding him is very much attached to the animal." 

" I have fallen in love with the horse myself," said I, 
" and I would like to know if you have any objections to 
my trading for him if I can arrange it satisfactorily with 
the Indian ?" 

He replied, " ISTone whatever, and I will help you to do 
it ; you can give the Indian another horse in his place." 

A few days after this I persuaded the Indian, by mak- 
ing him several presents, to trade horses with me, and in 
this way I became the owner of the buckskin steed ; not as 
my own property, however, but as a government horse that 
I could ride. I gave him the name of " Buckskin Joe," 
and he proved to be a fine buffalo-hunter. In the winter of 
1872, after I had left Fort McPherson, Buckskin Joe was 

59 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

condemned and sold at public sale, and was bought by 
Dave Perry, at North Platte, who in 1877 presented him 
to me, and I owned him until his death in 1879. 

The command scouted several days up the Beaver and 
Prairie Dog rivers, occasionally having running fights 
with way parties of Indians, but did not succeed in getting 
them into a general battle. At the end of twenty clays we 
found ourselves back on the Republican. 

Hitherto the Pawnees had not taken much interest in 
me, but while at this camp I gained their respect and ad- 
miration by showing them how I killed buffaloes. Al- 
though the Pawnees were excellent buffalo-hunters, for 
Indians, I have never seen one of them kill more than four 
or five in a single run. A number of them generally sur- 
round the herd and then dash in upon them, and in this 
way each one kills from one to four buffaloes. I had gone 
out in company with Major North and some of the officers, 
and saw them make a " surround." Twenty of the Paw- 
nees circled a herd and succeeded in killing only thirty- 
two. 

While they were cutting up the animals another herd 
appeared in sight. The Indians were preparing to sur- 
round it, when I asked Major North to keep them back 

60 



Pursuing the Sioux 

and let me show them what I could do. He accordingly 
informed the Indians of my wish, and they readily con- 
sented to let me have the opportunity. I had learned that 
Buckskin Joe was an excellent buffalo horse, and felt 
confident that I would astonish the natives. Galloping in 
among the buffaloes, I certainly did so by killing thirty- 
six in less than a half-mile run. At nearly every shot I 
killed a buffalo, stringing the dead animals out on the 
prairie, not over fifty feet apart. This manner of killing 
was greatly admired by the Indians, who called me a big- 
chief, and from that time on I stood high in their estima- 
tion. 

On leaving camp the command took a westward course 
up the Republican, and Major North, with two companies 
of cavalry, under the command of Colonel Royal, made a 
scout to the north of the river. Shortly after we had gone 
into camp, on the Black Tail Deer Fork, we observed a 
band of Indians coming over the prairie at full gallop, 
singing and yelling and waving their lances and long poles. 
At first we supposed them to be Sioux, and all was excite- 
ment for a few moments. We noticed, however, that our 
Pawnee Indians made no hostile demonstrations or prep- 
arations toward going out to fight them, but began sing- 
s 61 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

ing and yelling themselves. Captain Lute North stepped 
up to General Carr and said : " General, those are our men 
who are coming, and they have had a fight. That is the 
way they act when they come back from a battle and have 
taken any scalps." 

The Pawnees came into camp on the run. Captain 
North, calling to one of them, a sergeant, soon found out 
that they had run across a party of Sioux who were follow- 
ing a large Indian trail. These Indians had evidently been 
in a fight, for two or three of them had been wounded, and 
they were conveying the injured persons on travoix. The 
Pawnees had "jumped" them, and had killed three or four 
after a sharp fight, in which much ammunition was ex- 
pended. 

Next morning the command, at an early hour, started 
out to take up this Indian trail, which they followed for 
two days as rapidly as possible, it becoming evident from 
the many camp fires which we passed that we were gain- 
ing on the Indians. Wherever they had encamped we 
found the print of a woman's shoe, and we concluded that 
they had with them some white captive. This made us 
all the more anxious to overtake them, and General Carr 
selected all his best horses which could stand a hard run, 

62 



Pursuing the Sioux 

and gave orders for the wagon-train to follow as fast as 
possible, while he pushed ahead on a forced march. At 
the same time I was ordered to pick out five or six of the 
best Pawnees and go on in advance of the command, keep- 
ing ten or twelve miles ahead on the trail, so that when we 
overtook the Indians we could find out the location of their 
camp, and send word to the troops before they came in 
sight, thus affording ample time to arrange a plan for the 
capture of the village. 

After having gone about ten miles in advance of the 
regiment, we began to move very cautiously, as we were 
now evidently nearing the Indians. We looked carefully 
over the summits of the hills before exposing ourselves to 
plain view, and at last we discovered the village, encamped 
in the sand hills south of the South Platte River at Sum- 
mit Springs. Here I left the Pawnee scouts to keep watch, 
while I went back and informed General Carr that the 
Indians were in sight. 

The General at once ordered his men to tighten their 
saddles and otherwise prepare for action. Soon all was 
excitement among the officers and soldiers, every one being 
anxious to charge the village. I now changed my horse 
for old Buckskin Joe, who had been led for me thus far, 

63 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

and was comparatively fresh. Acting on my suggestion, 
the General made a circuit to the north, believing that if 
the Indians had their scouts out they would naturally be 
watching in the direction whence they had come. When 
we had passed the Indians, and were between them and the 
Platte River, we turned toward the left and started 
toward the village. 

By this manoeuvre we had avoided discovery by the Sioux 
scouts, and we were confident of giving them a complete 
surprise. Keeping the command wholly out of sight until 
we were within a mile of the Indians, the General halted 
the advance-guard until all closed up, and then issued an 
order that when he sounded the charge the whole com- 
mand was to rush into the village. 

As we halted on the top of the hill overlooking the camp 
of unsuspecting Indians, General Carr called out to his 
bugler, " Sound the charge !" 

The bugler for a moment became intensely excited, and 
actually forgot the notes. The General again sang out, 
" Sound the charge I" and yet the bugler was unable to 
obey the command. Quartermaster Hays — who had ob- 
tained permission to accompany the expedition — was rid- 
ing near the General, and comprehending the dilemma of 

64 



Pursuing the Sioux 

the man, rushed up to him, jerked the bugle from his 
hands, and sounded the charge himself in clear distinct 
notes. As the troops rushed forward, he threw the bugle 
away, then drawing his pistols, was among the first men 
that entered the village. 

The Indians had just driven up their horses, and were 
preparing to make a move of the camp, when they saw the 
soldiers coming down upon them. A great many of them 
succeeded in jumping upon their ponies, and leaving 
everything behind them, advanced out of the village and 
prepared to meet the charge; but, upon second thought, 
they quickly concluded that it was useless to try to check 
us, and those who were mounted rapidly rode away, while 
the others on foot fled for safety to the neighboring hills. 
We went through their village, shooting right and left at 
everything we saw. The Pawnees, the regular soldiers, 
and officers were all mixed up together, and the Sioux were 
flying in every direction. 

The pursuit continued until darkness made it impos- 
sible to longer follow the Indians, who had scattered and 
were leading off in every direction like a brood of young 
quails. The expedition went into camp along the South 
Platte, much exhausted by so long a chase, and though 

65 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

very tired, every trooper seemed anxious for the mor- 
row. 

It was nearly sunrise when " boots and saddles " was 
sounded, breakfast having been disposed of at break of 
day. The command started in a most seasonable time, but 
finding that the trail was all broken up, it was deemed 
advisable to separate into companies, each to follow a dif- 
ferent trail. 

The company which I headed struck out toward the 
northwest, over a route indicating the march of about one 
hundred Indians, and followed this for nearly two days. 
At a short bend of the Platte a new trail was discovered 
leading into the one the company was following, and at 
this point it was evident that a junction had been made. 
Farther along evidences of a reunion of the entire village 
increased, and now it began to appear that further pursuit 
would be somewhat hazardous, owing to the largely in- 
creased force of Indians. But there were plenty of brave 
men in the company, and nearly all were anxious to meet 
the Indians, however great their numbers might be. This 
anxiety was appeased on the third day, when a party of 
about six hundred Sioux was discovered riding in close 
ranks near the Platte. The discovery was mutual, and 

66 



Pursuing the Sioux 

there was immediate preparation for battle on both sides. 
Owing to the overwhelming force of the Indians, extreme* 
caution became necessary, and instead of advancing boldly, 
the soldiers sought advantageous ground. Seeing this, the 
Indians became convinced that there had been a division 
in General Carr's command, and that the company before 
them was a fragmentary part of the expedition. They 
therefore assumed the aggressive, charging us until we 
were compelled to retire to a ravine and act on the defen- 
sive. The attack was made with such caution that the 
soldiers fell back without undue haste, and had ample 
opportunity to secure their horses in the natural pit, which 
was a ravine that during wet seasons formed a branch of 
the Platte. 

After circling about the soldiers with a view of meas- 
uring their full strength, the Indians, comprehending how 
small was the number, made a desperate charge from two 
sides, getting so near us that several of the soldiers were 
badly wounded by arrows. But the Indians were received 
with such withering fire that they fell back in confusion, 
leaving twenty of their warriors on the ground. Another 
charge resulted like the first, with heavy loss to the red- 
skins, which so discouraged them that they drew off and 

G7 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

held a long council. After discussing the situation among 
themselves, they separated, one body making off as though 
they intended to leave ; but I understood their motions too 
well to allow the soldiers to be deceived. 

The Indians that remained again began to ride in a 
circle around us, but maintained a safe distance out of 
rifle range. Seeing an especially well-mounted Indian 
riding at the head of a squad, passing around in the same 
circle more than a dozen times, I decided to take my 
chances for dismounting the chief (as he proved to be), 
and to accomplish this purpose I crawled on my hands and 
knees three hundred yards up the ravine, stopping at a 
point which I considered would be in range of the Indian 
when he should again make the circuit. My judgment 
proved correct, for soon the Indian was seen loping his 
pony through the grass, and as he slackened speed to cross 
the ravine I rose up and fired, the aim being so well taken 
that the chief tumbled to the ground, while his horse, after 
running a few hundred yards, approached the soldiers, 
one of whom ran out and caught hold of the long lariat 
attached to the bridle, and thus secured the animal. When 
I returned to the company, all of whom had witnessed my 
feat of killing an Indian at a range of fully four hundred 

68 



Pursuing the Sioux 

yards, by general consent the horse of my victim was given 
to me. 

This Indian whom. I killed proved to be Tall Bull, one 
of the most cunning and able chiefs the Sioux ever had, 
and his death so affected the Indians that they at once re- 
treated without further attempt to dislodge us. 

Some days after this occurrence General Carr's com- 
mand was brought together again and had an engagement 
with the Sioux, in which more than three hundred war- 
riors and a large number of ponies were captured, together 
with several hundred squaws, among the latter being Tall 
Bull's widow, who told with pathetic interest how the 
Prairie Chief had killed her husband. But instead of 
being moved with hatred against me, as most civilized 
women would have been under like circumstances, she 
regarded me with special favor, and esteemed it quite an 
honor that her husband, a great warrior himself, should 
have met his death at my hands. 



IV 

My Duel with Yellow Hand 

WHEN" the news of the terrible massacre of Custer was 
learned, preparations were immediately made to 
avenge his death. The whole Cheyenne and Sioux tribes 
were in revolt, and a lively, if not very dangerous, cam- 
paign was in prospective. Two days before receipt of the 
news of the massacre, Colonel Stanton, who was with the 
Fifth Cavalry, had been sent to Red Cloud agency, and on 
the evening of the receipt of news of the Custer fight a 
scout arrived in our camp with a message from the Colonel, 
informing General Merritt that eight hundred Cheyenne 
warriors had that day left Red Cloud agency to join Sit- 
ting Bull's hostile forces in the Big Horn country. 

Notwithstanding the instructions to proceed immedi- 
ately to join General Crook by the way of Fort Fetter- 
man, General Merritt took the responsibility of endeavor- 
ing to intercept the Cheyennes, and, as the sequel shows, 
he performed a very important service. 

70 



My Duel with Yellow Hand 

He selected five hundred men and horses, and in two 
hours we were making a forced march back to Hat, or 
War-Bonnet, Creek, the intention being to reach the main 
Indian trail running to the north across that creek before 
the Cheyennes could get there. We arrived there the next 
night, and at daylight the following morning, July 17, 
1876, I went out on a scout, and found that the Indians 
had not yet crossed the creek. On my way back to the 
command I discovered a large party of Indians, which 
proved to be the Cheyennes, coming up from the south, 
and I hurried to the camp with this important informa- 
tion. 

The cavalrymen quietly mounted their horses and were 
ordered to remain out of sight, while General Merritt, ac- 
companied by two or three aides and myself, went out on 
a little tour of observation to a neighboring hill, from the 
summit of which we saw that the Indians were approaching 
almost directly toward us. Presently fifteen or twenty of 
them dashed off to the west, in the direction from which 
we had come the night before ; and upon closer observation 
with our field-glasses we discovered two mounted soldiers, 
evidently carrying despatches for us, pushing forward on 
our trail. 

71 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

The Indians were evidently trying to intercept these 
two men, and General Merritt feared that they would ac- 
complish their object. He did not think it advisable to 
send ont any soldiers to the assistance of the couriers, for 
fear that they would show to the Indians that there were 
troops in the vicinity who were waiting for them. I finally 
suggested that the best plan was to wait until the couriers 
came closer to the command, and then, just as the Indians 
were about to charge, to let me take the scouts and cut 
them off from the main body of the Cheyennes who were 
coming over the divide. 

" All right, Cody," said the General. " If you can do 
that, go ahead." 

I rushed back to the command, jumped on my horse, 
picked out fifteen men, and returned with them to the 
point of observation. I told General Merritt to give us 
the word to start out at the proper time, and presently he 
sang out : 

" Go in now, Cody, and be quick about it. They are 
going to charge on the couriers." 

The two messengers were not over four hundred yards 
from us, and the Indians were only about two hundred 
yards behind them. We instantly dashed over the bluffs, 

72 



My Duel with Yellow Hand 

and advanced on a gallop toward the Indians. A running 
fight lasted several minutes, during which we drove the 
enemy some little distance and killed three of their num- 
ber. The rest of them rode off toward the main body, 
which had come into plain sight and halted, upon seeing 
the skirmish that was going on. We were about half a 
mile from General Merritt, and the Indians whom we were 
chasing suddenly turned upon us, and another lively skir- 
mish took place. One of the Indians, who was handsomely 
decorated with all the ornaments usually worn by a war- 
chief when engaged in a fight, sang out to me, in his own 
tongue, " I know you, Pa-he-haska ; if you want to fight, 
come ahead and fight me." 

The chief was riding his horse back and forth in front of 
his men as if to banter me, and I concluded to accept the 
challenge. I galloped toward him for fifty yards, and he 
advanced toward me about the same distance, both of us 
riding at full speed, and then, when we were only about 
thirty yards apart, I raised my rifle and fired; his horse 
fell to the ground, having been killed by a bullet. Almost 
at the same moment my own horse went down, he having 
stepped into a gopher hole. The fall did not hurt me much, 
and I instantly sprang to my feet. The Indian had also 

73 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

recovered himself, and we were now both on foot, and not 
more than twenty paces apart. We fired at each other 
simultaneously. My usual luck did not desert me on this 
occasion, for his bullet missed me, while mine struck him 
in the breast. He reeled and fell, but before he had fairly 
touched the ground I was upon him, knife in hand, and 
had driven the keen-edged weapon to its hilt in his heart. 
Jerking his war-bonnet off, I scientifically scalped him in 
about five seconds. 

The whole affair from beginning to end occupied but 
little time, and the Indians, seeing that I was some little 
distance from my company, now came charging down upon 
me from a hill, in hopes of cutting me off. General Mer- 
ritt had witnessed the duel, and realizing the danger I was 
in, ordered Colonel Mason with Company K to hurry to 
my rescue. The order came none too soon, for had it been 
one minute later I would have had not less than two hun- 
dred Indians upon me. As the soldiers came up I swung 
the Indian chieftain's topknot and bonnet in the air and 
shouted, " The first scalp for Custer." 

General Merritt, seeing that he could not now ambush 
the Indians, ordered the whole regiment to charge upon 
them. They made a stubborn resistance for a little while, 

74 



My Duel with Yellow Hand 

but it was no use for any eight hundred, or even sixteen 
hundred, Indians to try and check a charge of the gallant 
old Fifth Cavalry, and they soon came to that conclusion, 
and began a running retreat toward Eed Cloud agency. 
For thirty-five miles we drove them, pushing them so hard 
that they were obliged to abandon their loose horses, their 
camp equipage, and everything else. We drove them into 
the agency, and followed in ourselves, notwithstanding the 
possibility of our having to encounter the thousands of 
Indians at that point. We were uncertain whether or not 
the agency Indians had determined to follow the example 
of the Cheyennes and strike out upon the war-path; but 
that made no difference with the Fifth Cavalry, for they 
would have fought them all if necessary. It was dark 
when we rode into the agency, where we found thousands 
of Indians collected together ; but they manifested no dis- 
position to fight. 

While at the agency I learned the name of the Indian 
chief whom I had killed that morning; it was Yellow 
Hand, a son of old Cut Nose, a leading chief of the Chey- 
ennes. Cut Nose having learned that I had killed his son, 
sent a white interpreter to me with a message to the effect 
that he would give me four mules if I would turn over to 

75 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

him Yellow Hand's war-bonnet, guns, pistols, ornaments, 
and other paraphernalia which I had captured. I sent 
back word to the old gentleman that it would give me 
pleasure to accommodate him, but I could not do it this 
time. 

The next morning we started to join General Crook, who 
was camped near the foot of Cloud Peak in the Big Horn 
Mountains, awaiting the arrival of the Fifth Cavalry be- 
fore proceeding against the Sionx, who were somewhere 
near the head of the Little Big Horn — as his scouts 
informed him. We made rapid marches, and reached 
General Crook's camp on Goose Creek about the 3d of 
August. 

At this camp I met many old friends, among whom was 
Colonel Royal, who had received his promotion to the 
Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the Third Cavalry. He intro- 
duced me to General Crook, whom I had never met before, 
but of whom I had often heard. He also introduced me 
to the General's chief guide, Frank Grouard, a half-breed, 
who had lived six years with Sitting Bull, and knew the 
country thoroughly. 

We remained in this camp only one day, and the whole 
troop pulled out for the Tongue Biver, leaving our wagons 

76 



My Duel with Yellow Hand 

behind, but taking with us a large pack-train. We marched 
down the Tongue River for two days, thence in a westerly 
direction over to the Rosebud, where we struck the main 
Indian trail leading down this stream. From the size of 
the trail, which appeared to be about four days old, we 
estimated that there must have been in the neighborhood 
of seven thousand Indians in the war party. 

For two or three days we pushed on, but we did not 
seem to gain much on the Indians, as they were evidently 
making about the same marches that we were. On the 
fourth or fifth morning of our pursuit, I rode ahead of the 
command about ten miles, and mounting a hill, I scanned 
the country far and wide with my field-glass, and dis- 
covered a column of dust rising about ten miles farther 
down the creek, and soon I noticed a body of men marching 
toward me, that at first I believed to be the Indians of 
whom we were in pursuit ; but subsequently they proved to 
be General Terry's command. I sent back word to that 
effect to General Crook by a scout who had accompanied 
me, but after he had departed I observed a band of Indians 
on the opposite side of the creek, and also another party 
directly in front of me. This led me to believe that I had 
made a mistake. But shortly afterward my attention was 
6 77 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

attracted by the appearance of a body of soldiers who were 
forming into a skirmish-line, and then I became convinced 
that it was General Terry's command, after all, and that 
the redskins whom I had seen were some of his friendly 
Indian scouts, who had mistaken me for a Sioux, and fled 
back to their command terribly excited, shouting, " The 
Sioux are coming !" 

General Terry at once came to the post, and ordered the 
Seventh Cavalry to form line of battle across the Kosebud ; 
he also ordered up his artillery and had them prepare for 
action, doubtless dreading another " Custer massacre." I 
afterward learned that the Indian had seen the dust raised 
by General Crook's forces, and had reported that the Sioux 
were coming. 

These manoeuvres I witnessed from my position with 
considerable amusement, thinking the command must be 
badly demoralized when one man could cause a whole 
army to form line of battle and prepare for action. Hav- 
ing enjoyed the situation to my heart's content, I galloped 
down toward the skirmish-line, waving my hat, and when 
within about one hundred yards of the troops, Colonel 
Weir, of the Seventh Cavalry, galloped out and met me. 
He recognized me at once, and accompanied me inside the 

78 



My Duel with Yellow Hand 

line ; then he sang out : " Boys, here's Buffalo Bill. Some 
of you old soldiers know him; give him a cheer !" There- 
upon the regiment gave three rousing cheers, and it was 
followed up all along the line. 

Colonel Weir presented me to General Terry, and in 
answer to his question I informed him that the alarm of 
Indians had been a false one, as the dust seen by his scouts 
was caused by General Crook's troops. General Terry 
thereupon rode forward to meet General Crook, and I ac- 
companied him at his request. That night both com- 
mands went into camp on the Rosebud. General Terry 
had his wagon-train with him, and everything to make life 
comfortable on an Indian campaign. He had large wall 
tents and portable beds to sleep in, and commodious hos- 
pital tents for dining-rooms. His camp looked very com- 
fortable and attractive, and presented a great contrast to 
that of General Crook, who had for his headquarters only 
one small fly tent, and whose cooking utensils consisted of a 
quart cup — in which he made his coffee himself — and a 
stick upon which he broiled his bacon. When I compared 
the two camps, I came to the conclusion that General Crook 
was an Indian-fighter ; for it was evident that he had learn- 
ed that to follow and fight Indians a body of men must 

79 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

travel lightly, and not be detained by a wagon-train or 
heavy luggage of any kind. 

That evening General Terry ordered General Miles to 
take his regiment, the Fifth Infantry, and return by a 
forced march to Yellowstone, and proceed down the river 
by steamboat to the mouth of the Powder Eiver, to inter- 
cept the Indians, in case they attempted to cross the Yel- 
lowstone. General Miles made a forced march that night 
of thirty-five miles, which was splendid travelling for an 
infantry regiment through a mountainous country. 

Generals Crook and Terry spent that evening and the 
next day in council, and on the following morning both 
commands moved out on the Indian trail. Although Gen- 
eral Terry was the senior officer, he did not assume com- 
mand of both expeditions, but left General Crook in com- 
mand of his own troops, although they operated together. 
We crossed the Tongue River to Powder River, and pro- 
ceeded down the latter stream to a point twenty miles 
from its junction with the Yellowstone, where the Indian 
trail turned to the southeast in the direction of the Black 
Hills. The two commands now being nearly out of sup- 
plies, the trail was abandoned, and the troops kept on down 
Powder River to its confluence with the Yellowstone, and 

80 



My Duel with Yellow Hand 

remained there several days. Here we met General Miles, 
who reported that no Indians had as yet crossed the Yellow- 
stone. Several steamboats soon arrived with a large quan- 
tity of supplies, and once more the " Boys in Blue " were 
made happy. 

One evening, while we were in camp on the Yellow- 
stone at the mouth of Powder Kiver, I was informed that 
the commanding officer had selected Louis Kichard, a half- 
breed, and myself to accompany General Miles on a scout- 
ing expedition on the steamer Far West, down the Yellow- 
stone as far as Glendive Creek. We were to ride on the 
pilot-house and keep a sharp lookout on both sides of the 
river for Indian trails that might have crossed the stream. 
The idea of scouting on a steamboat was indeed a novel one 
to me, and I anticipated a pleasant trip. 

At daylight next morning we reported on board the 
steamer to General Miles, who had with him four or five 
companies of his regiment. Wa were somewhat surprised 
when he asked us where our horses were, as we had not 
supposed that horses would be needed if the scouting was 
to be done on the steamer. He said we might need them 
before we got back, and thereupon we had the animals 
brought on board. In a few minutes we were booming 

81 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

down the river at the rate of about twenty miles an 
hour. 

The steamer Far West was commanded by Captain 
Grant Marsh, whom I found to be an interesting character. 
I had often heard of him, for he was, and is yet, one of 
the best-known river captains in the country. He it was 
who, with his steamer the Far West, transported the 
wounded men from the battle of the Little Big Horn to 
Fort Abraham Lincoln on the Missouri River, and on that 
trip he made the fastest steamboat time on record. He was 
a skilful and experienced pilot, handling his boat with re- 
markable dexterity. 

While Richard and myself were at our stations on the 
pilot-house, the steamer, with a full head of steam, went 
flying past islands, around bends, over sand-bars, at a rate 
that was exhilarating. Presently I thought I could see 
horses grazing in a distant bend of the river, and I reported 
the fact to General Miles, who asked Captain Marsh if 
he could land the boat near a large tree which he pointed 
out to him. " Yes, sir ; I can land her there, and make her 
climb the tree if necessary," said he. 

On reaching the spot designated, General Miles ordered 
two companies ashore, while Richard and myself were in- 

82 



My Duel with Yellow Hand 

structed to take our horses off the boat and push out as 
rapidly as possible to see if there were Indians in the 
vicinity. While we were getting ashore, Captain Marsh 
remarked that if there was only a good heavy dew on the 
grass he would shoot the steamer ashore, and take us on 
the scout without the trouble of leaving the boat. 

It was a false alarm, however, as the objects we had 
seen proved to be Indian graves. Quite a large number 
of braves, who had probably been killed in some battle, 
were laid on scaffolds, according to the Indian custom, and 
some of their clothing had been torn from the bodies by the 
wolves and was waving in the air. 

On arriving at Glendive Creek we found that Colonel 
Rice and his company of the Fifth Infantry, who had been 
sent there by General Miles, had built quite a good little 
fort with their trowel-bayonets, a weapon which Colonel 
Rice was the inventor of, and which is, by-the-way, a very 
useful implement of war, as it can be used for a shovel in 
throwing up intrenchments, and can be profitably utilized 
in several other ways. On the day previous to our arrival 
Colonel Rice had a fight with a party of Indians, and had 
killed two or three of them at long range with his Rodman 
cannon. 

83 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

The Far West was to remain at Glendive overnight, and 
General Miles wished to send despatches back to General 
Terry at once. At his request I took the despatches, and 
rode seventy-five miles that night through the bad lands 
of the Yellowstone, and reached General Terry's camp 
next morning, after having nearly broken my neck a dozen 
times or more. 

There being but little prospect of any more fighting, I 
determined to go East as soon as possible to engage in 
other pursuits. So I started down the river on the steamer 
Yellowstone, en route to Fort Beaufort. On the same 
morning Generals Terry and Crook pulled out for Powder 
River, to take up the old Indian trail which we had left. 

The steamer had proceeded down the stream about 
twenty miles when it was met by another boat on its way 
up the river, having on board General Whistler and some 
fresh troops for General Terry's command. Both boats 
landed, and I met several old friends among the soldiers. 

General Whistler, upon learning that General Terry 
had left the Yellowstone, asked me to carry to him some 
important despatches from General Sheridan, and al- 
though I objected, he insisted upon my performing this 
duty, saying that it would only detain me a few hours 

84 



My Duel with Yellow Hand 

longer, as an extra inducement he offered me the use of 
his own thoroughbred horse, which was on the boat. I 
finally consented to go, and was soon speeding over the 
rough and hilly country toward Powder River, and de- 
livered the despatches to General Terry the same evening. 
General Whistler's horse, although a good animal, was not 
used to such hard riding, and was far more exhausted by 
the journey than I was. 

After I had taken a lunch, General Terry asked me if 
I would carry some despatches back to General Whistler, 
and I replied that I would. Captain Smith, General 
Terry's aide-de-camp, offered me his horse for the trip, and 
it proved to be an excellent animal ; for I rode him that 
same night forty miles over the bad lands in four hours, 
and reached General Whistler's steamboat at one o'clock. 
During my absence the Indians had made their appearance 
on the different hills of the vicinity, and the troops from 
the boat had had severel skirmishes with them. When 
General Whistler had finished reading the despatches, he 
said : " Cody, I want to send some information to General 
Terry concerning the Indians who have been skirmishing 
around here all day. I have been trying all the evening 
long to induce some one to carry my despatches to him, 

85 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

but no one seems willing to undertake the trip, and I have 
got to fall back on you. It is asking a great deal, I know, 
as you have just ridden eighty miles; but it is a case of 
necessity, and if you'll go, Cody, I'll see that you are well 
paid for it." 

" Never mind about the pay," said I, " but get your 
despatches ready and I'll start at once." 

In a few minutes he handed me the package, and, mount- 
ing the same horse which I had ridden from General 
Terry's camp, I struck out for my destination. It was two 
o'clock in the morning when I left the boat, and at eight 
o'clock I rode into General Terry's camp, just as he was 
about to march, having made one hundred and twenty 
miles in twenty-two hours. 

General Terry, after reading the despatches, halted his 
command, and then rode on and overtook General Crook, 
with whom he held a council ; the result was that Crook's 
command moved on in the direction which they had been 
pursuing, while Terry's forces marched back to the Yellow- 
stone and crossed the river on steamboats. At the urgent 
request of General Terry I accompanied the command on 
a scout in the direction of the Dry Fork of the Missouri, 
where it was expected we would strike some Indians. 

86 



My Duel with Yellow Hand 

The first march out from the Yellowstone was made in 
the night, as we wished to get into the hills without being 
discovered by the Sioux scouts. After marching three 
days a little to the east of north, we reached the buffalo 
range and discovered fresh signs of Indians, who had evi- 
dently been killing buffaloes. General Terry now called 
on me to carry despatches to Colonel Rice, who was still 
encamped at the mouth of Glendive Creek, on the Yellow- 
stone — distant about eighty miles from us. 

Night had set in with a storm, and a drizzling rain was 
falling when, at ten o'clock, I started on this ride through 
a section of country with which I was entirely unac- 
quainted. I travelled through the darkness a distance of 
about thirty-five miles, and at daylight I rode into a 
secluded spot at the head of a ravine where stood a bunch 
of ash-trees, and there I concluded to remain till night, 
for I considered it a dangerous undertaking to cross the 
wide prairies in broad daylight — especially as my horse 
was a poor one. I accordingly unsaddled my animal and 
ate a hearty breakfast of bacon and hardtack which I had 
stored in the saddle-pockets ; then, after taking a smoke, I 
lay down to sleep, with my saddle for a pillow. In a few 
minutes I was in the land of dreams. 

87 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

After sleeping some time — I cannot tell how long — I 
was suddenly awakened by a roaring, rumbling sound. I 
instantly seized my gun, sprang to my horse, and hur- 
riedly secreted him in the brush. Then I climbed up the 
steep side of the bank and cautiously looked over the 
summit; in the distance I saw a large herd of buffaloes 
which were being chased and fired at by twenty or thirty 
Indians. Occasionally a buffalo would drop out of the 
herd, but the Indians kept on until they had killed ten or 
fifteen. They then turned back and began to cut up the 
game. 

I saddled my horse and tied him to a small tree where 
I could reach him conveniently in case the Indians should 
discover me by finding my trail and following it. I then 
crawled carefully back to the summit of the bluff, and in a 
concealed position watched the Indians for two hours, dur- 
ing which time they were occupied in cutting up the 
buffaloes and packing the meat on their ponies. When they 
had finished this work they rode off in the direction whence 
they had come. 

I waited till nightfall before resuming my journey, and 
then I bore off to the east for several miles, and by making 
a semicircle to avoid the Indians, I got back on my original 



My Duel with Yellow Hand 

course, and then pushed on rapidly to Colonel Rice's camp, 
which I reached just at daylight. 

Colonel Rice had been fighting Indians almost every day 
since he had been encamped at this point, and he was very 
anxious to notify General Terry of the fact. Of course I 
was requested to carry his despatches. After remaining 
at Glendive a single day, I started back to find General 
Terry, and on the third day I overhauled him at the head 
of Deer Creek, while on his way to Colonel Rice's camp. 
He was not, however, going in the right direction, but 
bearing too far to the east, and so I informed him. He 
then asked me to guide the command, and I did so. 

On arriving at Glendive I bade good-by to the General 
and his officers, and took passage on the Far West, which 
was on her way down the Missouri. At Bismarck I left 
the steamer and proceeded to Rochester, New York, where 
I met my family. 



THE LIFE OF BUFFALO BILL 



The Little Boy of the Prairie 

ONCE when Buffalo Bill was a tiny boy of seven or 
eight his father's family were camping on their way 
to Kansas. It happened that both his father and the 
guide were away from the little camp in search of food. 
It was at night and young Bill Cody was asleep. He was 
suddenly awakened by hearing a noise, and saw an Indian 
in the act of untying and leading away his own pet pony. 
The boy jumped up, grasped his rifle, and said, 

" What are you doing with my horse ?" 

The Indian did not seem to be much disturbed at the 
little fellow's appearance, and said he would swap horses. 
Little Bill said he would not swap. The Indian only 
laughed at him. Then the boy held his gun ready, and 
said again that he would not swap; and in the end the 
big Indian, after watching him keenly for a few minutes, 
quietly mounted his old pony and rode away. That is a 
good example of the nerve and courage which have made 
7 93 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

him as a grown man the best plainsman in our his- 
tory. 

Every boy, perhaps every man, loves to read about 
the days of Indian fights, the camping along the trails, the 
crossing of the plains in prairie schooners, and the wild 
life that belonged to what was once called the Great 
American Desert — which now contains thousands of 
farms and hundreds of cities. It was a hard life; but 
it was so full of real adventure, of actual danger, that it 
had its own interest to those who lived it. And although 
it is gone now forever, it will always remain the most 
interesting part of American history to the boys of our 
country. 

That was the time when a man saved his own life day 
by day, absolutely and solely because he had greater 
courage or quicker wit than his opponent, whether that 
opponent was an Indian, a stage-robber, a flood, a prairie 
lire, or any other form of danger. To understand those 
days and the events and episodes as they occurred to the 
men who lived them, one must first get into one's mind the 
country they lived in and travelled over. It was a flat 
land stretching thousands of miles across the middle of the 
United States from the Missouri Kiver to California, with 

94 



The Little Boy of the Prairie 

here and there a huge range of mountains running north 
and south, guarded on either side by long lines of foot- 
hills. Sometimes there were stretches of forest; generally 
there was nothing but the flat plains covered with a rough 
wild grass. Between the Rocky Mountains and the 
Sierra Nevada there were the alkali plains, unfit for human 
habitation. All this country was inhabited by Indians 
who had been gradually driven westward from the Atlantic 
coast, who had been treated badly by white men, and who 
had become a fierce race of fighters and hnnters. They 
considered the white man their natural prey. Whenever 
they saw a " pale face " it was fair and right in their minds 
to try to get his scalp; for hundreds of stories had been 
handed down to them from their fathers and grandfathers 
of the way in which the white man had killed their people 
and driven them from the land that had been theirs for 
centuries. 

Over this country — a distance of two thousand miles — 
the buffaloes and the Indians roamed, and no white man 
had a home. There were no cities. There were practically 
no towns. The white man gradually moving west had got 
as far as the western counties of Arkansas, Missouri, and 
Iowa in 1850; the white man had settled the Pacific coast 

95 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

in California ; there were no railroads ; there was no way 
to communicate between the Missouri River and Cali- 
fornia, except on horseback or by driving in huge wagons 
across these wild plains. 

Any day, any moment, while the travellers were sitting 
in their great wagons, they might see some little specks 
coming toward them across the flat plain. Then came a 
scurrying to put the wagons in a circle with the horses and 
mules, men and women, in the centre. In a moment a 
band of mounted Indians would rush down upon them; 
and unless they were ready these wild redmen would ride 
through the train between the wagons, frighten the mules 
and horses, separate one wagon from another, and after 
killing all the human beings, carry their goods away. 
Sometimes it happened in the night. Sometimes it hap- 
pened in the day. And as those who were not ready were 
always killed, the result was that those who lived and 
travelled across those plains were the keenest and shrewd- 
est of their kind — quicker and shrewder than the Indians 
themselves. Even if the Indians did not appear, it took 
a good hunter to keep his little caravan supplied with food. 
For the journey was a long one; there were many break- 
downs and delays; and in order to supply food for the 

96 



The Little Boy of the Prairie 

company the buffalo and deer of the plains had to be 
hunted and killed. 

That was the country and the people between 1850 and 
1860. After the rush to California for gold, it became 
evident that there must be some regular system of com- 
munication between the outskirts of civilization in the 
East, and the outskirts of civilization in the West in Cali- 
fornia. It was just at this time that the man who is 
known all over the world as Buffalo Bill was born. 

Buffalo Bill's father was named Isaac Cody. He lived 
on a farm in Scott County, Iowa, near a town named Le 
Clair, and there William Frederick Cody was born on the 
26th of February, 1816. 

When the California gold craze came in 1849, Isaac 
Cody, with thousands of other people, made up his mind 
to go across the plains to California and look for gold. 
But before he had much more than started he changed his 
mind and moved toward Kansas, where he hoped to find 
some place to settle on the frontier. Instead of taking his 
wife and children on such a dangerous expedition he left 
them with his brother, Elijah Cody, in Piatt County, Mis- 
souri, and then started out in search of a new home. 
Finally, when young William was only seven or eight 

97 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

years old, his father settled near Fort Leavenworth, Kan- 
sas, and here the boy grew up in the midst of Indians and 
the wild life of the plains, and in the very thick of the 
early fights that occurred between the ^Northerners and 
Southerners over the question of slavery. It was a hard 
life and only those who were naturally fitted for it lived 
through it. Even at the age of seven or eight little Bill 
Cody naturally took to this sort of life. He loved ad- 
venture. He loved stories of Indians, scouts, and des- 
peradoes, and he could fire a rifle pretty accurately almost 
as soon as he could carry one. 

Finally the family settled in Salt Creek Valley in Kan- 
sas, which was on the line of one of the two trails, or 
roads — if they could be called roads — that stretched for 
two thousand miles or more across this waste of plain and 
mountain to California. 

Day after day little Bill Cody would go out with his 
father, taking his rifle, to hunt, and he always had with 
him a famous dog named " Turk." The boy, and in fact all 
the children, loved Turk. He was as much one of the 
family as any of the children, and again and again gave 
warning of danger. There are many instances in which 
the dog practically saved the lives of at least one member 

98 



The Little Boy of the Prairie 

of the family group. One day when Cody's two sisters 
were walking some distance from their home they heard 
a snarl, and looking up into a tree they saw a panther 
getting ready to spring upon them. Old Turk, who was 
with them, was quite as well aware of the danger as 
they were; and while they hid in the bushes, he sat in 
front of them and grappled with the panther as it jumped 
to reach them. The whole incident took place in a mo- 
ment, and before they realized what had happened, they 
saw their favorite dog in the act of being killed by the 
panther. Suddenly off in the distance they heard their 
brother Bill's familiar whistle calling his dog. Then on 
the instant, as they crouched there, expecting every moment 
to see the fight end with the death of the dog, a rifle-shot 
rang out and the panther rolled over dead. That was a 
famous shot in itself for a boy of less than eight years, for 
both animals were rolling over and over in their fight, and 
it took not only nerve, but accurate aim, to hit the one and 
avoid the other. 

The family had scarcely got settled in their new home 
when the father, who did not believe in slavery, got into dis- 
cussions with other people of the county who had been 
brought up to hold slaves. Those were hard, dangerous 

99 
L.ofC. 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

men. They got angry quickly; they shot their pistols at 
one another without much provocation, and they feared 
neither death nor anything else because they were living 
in the midst of danger always. In one of these excited 
discussions as to whether slaves should be held in the new 
State of Kansas or not, Isaac Cody took a firm stand on 
his side, and was thereupon notified that if he did not leave 
the country he would be shot. He had to hide frequently 
in different parts of his own house at night Avhen a body 
of men would come to kill him, and for days and days he 
lived in thickets near the house, his little son bringing him 
food every day. 

Once when a party had come to the house in search of 
his father and had failed to find him, young Bill dis- 
covered that his pony was missing. He went out to look 
for it, and found that it was being led away by a member 
of the lynching party named Sharp. He cried out to the 
man that that was his pony; whereupon the desperado 
laughed at him. Bill called him a coward and told him he 
would get even with him some day ; and then suddenly get- 
ting an idea, he whistled for Turk, and set the dog on the 
man. The dog ran up to the pony and bit his hind legs, 
whereupon the little horse kicked vigorously and bucked 

100 



The Little Boy of the Prairie 

until he had thrown Sharp off. Then began a hot dis- 
cussion between Will and Sharp, the one setting the dog 
on, the other yelling to have him called off. But in the 
end Sharp was obliged to temporize. He returned the 
pony and went away as fast as he could run. 

So the days went on until Isaac Cody was obliged to 
leave the country. One of the famous scout's first real 
adventures occurred at this time. The boy was scarcely 
ten years old when one night the family received informa- 
tion that their father was coming home to see them and to 
stay for one night, returning to Fort Leavenworth in the 
morning. In some way the men of the community dis- 
covered that he was coming. A party was sent out to capt- 
ure him as he came through a wooded gulch, and the 
little family sat around the hearth, most of them in tears, 
with the certainty that their father would be killed that 
night. 

Then the instinct of the young scout came to the 
surface. Young Bill proposed that he should ride his 
pony to a place called Grasshopper Falls, where his father 
was staying, and warn him. The boy had been sick with a 
fever ; but he got out of bed, mounted his pony, and started 
in the night to ride the thirty miles. He had only gone 

101 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

four or five when he heard a cry of, " Halt !" Instead of 
stopping, he leaned over Indian fashion behind his pony, 
so that nothing but one leg showed on the side from which 
the call came, and there he hung as the good horse rushed 
at his top speed through the ambuscade. As he did not 
stop, the men began firing at him, and he could hear the 
bullets flying over him. He got through safely, however, 
and succeeded in getting to Grasshopper Falls just as his 
father was starting. It is interesting to know that this 
ride, taken in the night by a sick boy not old enough to go 
to school, was ten miles longer than the famous ride of 
General Philip Sheridan in the Civil War. 

Then came hard times for the little Cody family. The 
father died, and the mother had no means of supporting 
her children and keeping up the farm. Young Bill, then 
eleven years old, made up his mind that it was his duty to 
support them. He could not stay at home, as he was not 
big enough to attend to the work of the farm. 

It seemed an almost impossible task, because in addition 
to all their poverty there was a mortgage of one thousand 
dollars against their farm, and if they did not pay this 
shortly their own home would be taken away from them. 
Mrs. Cody was a brave woman, and she felt that if it were 

102 



The Little Boy of the Prairie 

not for that mortgage she could have managed to scrape 
along and keep the family alive. In the many talks which 
they Had as to what they should do, the boy told his 
mother that if she could fight this claim he would try to 
earn the money. 

This was his idea. There was a firm — a famous one in 
the history of that part of the United States — named 
Russell, Majors & Waddell, frontiersmen who had gradu- 
ally built up a line of freight-wagons that went from St. 
Joseph, Missouri, to San Francisco, two thousand miles 
across the plains and mountains, carrying the freight that 
was shipped from the East to the West and bringing back 
freight from California to the East. These goods were 
packed in huge wagons with big canvas tops, drawn by 
sometimes ten and sometimes twenty teams of oxen. There 
was so much danger in these trips from Indians and out- 
laws that they never started without several wagons in a 
little caravan, with a guard of frontiersmen all armed and 
ready to repel any attack from whatever source. Each 
night they camped in certain places along the trail where 
there was water and, if possible, wood. They cooked their 
own meals. They set up their pickets and guards, and 
started on again in the morning to the next camp. The 

103 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

journey took about a month ; and time and time again the 
whole outfit would fail to appear at the other end. It had 
been attacked and all the men killed by Indians or by the 
robbers of the plains. And sometimes the next caravan 
would find the remnants of the wagons and the dead bodies 
of men and oxen. It was Bill Cody's idea to see if he 
could not get a chance to travel as what is called an 
" extra " on one of these caravans, and forthwith he pre- 
sented himself at the office of the firm in Fort Leaven- 
worth. One of the members of the firm had known his 
father, and so he treated the boy kindly. But he told him 
frankly that a boy of his age would be of no use. Bill, 
however, said that he could ride and shoot, that he could 
herd cattle and do a lot of other things. He wanted to be 
an " extra." Finally, he was so earnest in his desire, that 
Mr. Majors consented; and there is an interesting docu- 
ment which was signed by the two which shows what was 
expected and what were the dangers of such work. This 
paper reads as follows: 

" I, Wm. F. Cody, do hereby solemnly swear before 
the great and living God, that during my engagement with, 
and while I am in the employ of, Russell, Majors & Wad- 
dell, I will not, under any circumstances, use profane lan- 

104 



The Little Boy of the Prairie 

guage, that I will not quarrel or fight with any other em- 
ploye of the firm, and that in every respect I will conduct 
myself honestly, be faithful to my duties, and shall direct 
all my acts so as to win the confidence of my employers. 
So help me God." 

And so the u boy extra " began his work. At night he 
slept in a blanket under a wagon, and by day he did what- 
ever he was given to do. 

Day after day, week after week, they travelled slowly 
over the huge plains, the " bull-whackers " — the men who 
drove the huge oxen — constantly snapping their enormous 
whips and urging the beasts on as fast as possible. It was 
a monotonous life, except when some incident occurred, 
and then the incident was likely to be one of life or death, 
depending on the quickness, accuracy of aim, and alert- 
ness of the men in the " bull train." They had only gone 
about thirty-five miles from Fort Kearny, one of the places 
where they stopped near the Platte River, when young Bill 
suddenly saw the three pickets drop flat on the ground, 
and the next moment he heard shots and saw a band of 
Indians riding toward them. Instantly the men in the 
bull train — all frontiersmen — made a circle of the wagons, 
got into the circle themselves, and began firing at the Ind- 

105 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

ians. The redmen wheeled in a big curve, firing as they 
went, and then rode off a short distance on the plain out 
of gun-shot and stood watching the white men. Buffalo 
Bill has already told this story in his own words 
earlier in the book. But he does not tell what it seems 
impossible to believe — that this boy of eleven years 
saved the lives of the entire outfit ; and so it is Avell to men- 
tion the fact here. The consultation which the men had 
while the Indians waited proved that it was useless to stay 
where they were. Indians began to come from all quarters 
and outnumbered the whites ten to one. It was therefore 
decided to leave the train to the mercy of the Indians and 
make a dash for a creek where they could hide behind the 
embankment. This was successfully carried out, and they 
then started for Fort Kearny, walking in the water and 
keeping watch over the top of the bank. As night came on 
the little boy began to get tired and weak. He could not 
keep up with the others, and in the excitement and dark- 
ness they did not miss him as he gradually fell behind. 
So the little fellow was trudging along, his rifle over his 
shoulder, perhaps a hundred yards behind the party, when 
to his amazement he saw the feathered head of an Indian 
poke over the bank before him and behind the others of 

106 



The Little Boy of the Prairie 

his party. The Indian did not see him, for he was look- 
ing toward the others. With the quickness and instinct 
which have made Buffalo Bill what he is, the lad put up 
his rifle, and the first warning his friends had of any attack 
in the rear was the sound of a shot, and the sound, too, of 
the body of the dead Indian rolling down into the creek. 
That was Buffalo Bill's first Indian, and the story of the 
boy who had saved the bull train went all over the frontier 
country in an incredibly short space of time. 



II 

Little Bill Cody at School and at the Traps 

"\TOW began days of trouble for the young frontiersboy. 
Xl The family difficulties were not so serious as they had 
seemed at first. Mrs. Cody was able to keep the farm, and 
realizing that her boy, while promising to make a good 
frontiersman, was not getting any education, she showed 
him the necessity of having the " man of the family " go 
to school. 

Near their home some of the settlers had contributed 
money for the building of a little school-house and for the 
payment of a teacher who was to come from the East and 
teach their children. Mrs. Cody made up her mind that 
Bill should go there to school, and after much discussion 
he began his school-days. 

Those must have been strange school-days as we think of 
school now. The little one-room shanty on the plain had 
nothing in it but a few boards of the simplest kind that 
would serve as desks, a stove, and a few, very few, 

108 



Little Bill Cody at School and at the Traps 

books. The scholars were a wild lot, quite unused to any 
kind of discipline. There was no idea in their minds of 
promptness, of getting to school on time, of behaving while 
they were in school, or of studying very hard over their 
lessons. In fact, their parents had had very little educa- 
tion, and there was nothing in all that country that made 
people believe in any discipline. Then, too, the teacher 
was not a very good one. In fact, it would have been 
hard to get a man to go out on that wild frontier who could 
make a living in the East. So the school was a somewhat 
uproarious affair. The boys had numerous fights. They 
came when they liked. They went hunting or fishing as 
they saw fit. They got a good many beatings from the 
teacher and laughed over them afterward. They teased 
the girls, and again and again the school-teacher, unable 
to cope with them, settled matters by driving them out of 
the little house and locking the door. 

In the midst of this crowd of youngsters young Bill 
began his first day. He was known to them all and to all 
their parents for miles around as the boy who had saved 
the bull train, as a fine shot, and as a good deal of a hero. 
Besides this he was a terrible tease, not only to his own 
sisters, but to every one else's sisters, 
s 109 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

JSTot many days had passed when a feud grew up 
between him and another boy of the school. This 
soon developed into fights, finally ending in the ar- 
rival of old Turk at the school. The school, like 
all other houses, had no cellar. It rested a foot or two 
above the ground. Bill's rival in the school was a boy 
named Gobel, and he, too, owned a dog. When Turk ar- 
rived in search of his young master the school was in 
session, and a moderate amount of order had been main- 
tained for some time. Then suddenly the scholars and 
the teacher heard beneath them a fierce growl, then an- 
other, then a series of howls and cries. And every one 
knew that within a few inches of them, only separated by 
the floor, there was a fine dog-fight in progress. That was 
enough for the scholars. They jumped over their seats, 
crowded out through the door, and stood around the school- 
house watching Turk and Gobel's dog fight. Each dog 
was urged on by one of the two factions. It was not long 
before Turk had beaten his rival and driven him away 
with his tail between his legs. Whereupon young Gobel 
said that although his dog might be beaten, he could lick 
Will Cody. That was enough for the young frontiersboy, 
and, in spite of all the teacher could do, a ring was soon 

110 



Little Bill Cody at School and at the Traps 

formed by the scholars and a thoroughbred prize-fight 
started. Gobel was much larger and older than Will, and 
the latter knew that he would be beaten shortly. He must 
resort to some stratagem, and though it seems strange to 
us now, out on that frontier, and especially to a boy who 
had actually been obliged to kill men to save his own life, 
any means of winning the fight was right. So the little 
fellow, thinking all the time while he was in the midst of 
his struggle, drew his knife and stuck it into the fleshy 
part of Steve Gobel's leg. The moment Steve saw the 
blood he screamed with terror and cried out that he was 
killed. 

Thereupon all the children took to their heels and 
ran to tell their parents that Will Cody had killed Gobel. 
Then the teacher took a hand, and so did the parents of 
many of the children, and it looked as if it would go hard 
with poor Bill. At all events, he did not dare to stay at 
home, and not knowing what else to do, he ran away down 
the trail, happening to come upon one of the wagon-trains 
of his first employers, Russell, Majors & Waddell, as he 
ran. The boss of the outfit was a man named Willis, and 
when the boy told his story Willis promised to look after 
him and take him again as a boy extra, first offering to go 

111 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

back to the school with him and lick Gobel, and the teacher 
too, if Bill said so. It was only a few moments when 
Gobel's father and a couple of men came up to arrest the 
boy, but they had to deal with men who were used to that 
sort of thing every day of their lives, and the pursuers 
soon discovered that it was wise for them to turn around 
and go home. But there was no more school for young 
Cody at present, and so he again became a member of a 

bull train. 

During this short term of service with the freighters 
the boy had another experience which very nearly ended 
his career, and which to any boy who lives in a pleasant 
home and never sees any such life can scarcely be much 
more than a fairy-tale, it is so terrible and seems so im- 
possible. The boy had a short time with nothing to do be- 
tween trips in the winter, and he decided, as money was 
necessary, to go on a hunting trip with a party of trappers. 
There was a chance of making considerable money by 
trapping animals and selling their furs. As a matter of 
fact, the trapping was very successful, and young Bill 
contributed distinctly his part to the family treasury. It 
was in the midst of this trip, while he was in an absolutely 
uninhabited country, making a round of his traps, that he 

112 



Little Bill Cody at School and at the Traps 

came upon three Indians, each leading a pony loaded with 
skins. It was a case of three to one, and the moment he 
discovered them they discovered him. He saw the lead- 
ing Indian put up his rifle and aim it at him. Here was a 
case, one of the many that came later, where the young 
frontiersboy unquestionably saved his life by his own 
quickness and skill. Actually before the Indian, who was 
no greenhorn at such matters, could aim his rifle and fire, 
Will Cody had shot him dead. The other two Indians 
fired arrows, one of which went through the boy's hat ; but 
without stopping, he turned around and cried, as if to his 
companions : 

" Here they are ! This way ! This way I" 
And then — all this taking place in an incredibly short 
space of time — he wounded one Indian with his revolver 
as the two turned and fled ; so that, instead of being killed 
himself, he killed one Indian, wounded another, overcame 
the third, and marched into camp with their three ponies 
and all the skins that they had gathered. 

It was on a similar trapping expedition that the follow- 
ing episode occurred. The boy had been so successful and 
had made so much money that he decided on another trip. 
Kot finding any party of men starting out, he got up an 

113 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

expedition of his own with a friend of his named David 
Phillips. The two youngsters bought an ox-team wagon 
and started out. They were after beaver, and when they 
were somewhere in the vicinity of Fort Leavenworth they 
struck a country full of beaver dams. Here they camped 
in a cave in the hillside which they fixed up for a per- 
manent home. They stored the food they had brought and 
went to work setting their traps. At every hour of the 
day and night they were likely to run upon Indians, who 
never waited to parley, but killed whatever white men 
they saw as soon as they came upon them, scalping them 
and leaving them dead or dying wherever they might have 
fallen. 

These two boys, therefore, were constantly on the 
watch. Every bush, every tree, every rock, might conceal 
an Indian, and by practising this instinct, just as a sailor 
on a ship will see a sail that any one else might think was 
a cloud or a speck on the horizon, these boys of the plains 
could discover, in a range of many miles over plain or 
rolling country, the slightest thing that was unusual or 
unexplainable. A little spot of color in a tree or bush that 
was not exactly the color of a winter leaf would mean to 
them an ambuscade of Indians. The slightest impression 

114 



Little Bill Cody at School and at the Traps 

in the earth which was different from impressions left 
there by nature meant the trail of a party of Indians. 
Every instant while they were moving along in the day or 
night their eyes were roaming over the country round 
about to pick out any one of these tiny but unusual signs. 

The boys had been attending to their work of trapping 
for many days without seeing any unusual sign. One 
night they came to their camp and had eaten supper, when 
their oxen began to bellow and leap about. The boys 
grabbed their rifles, ran to the corral, and discovered that 
a bear was in the vicinity. Phillips fired first and wound- 
ed the animal. But that only made him the more savage. 
The boy just managed to leap out of the bear's way when 
Bill fired into his mouth and killed him. But it was a 
close call, as the dead beast fell actually on the body of 
Phillips. It was a case of having saved the boy's life, 
and the chance of returning the favor came only too soon. 

It was the next day, when Bill Cody slipped and broke 
his leg. The other boy carried him back to the camp, 
made splints, bound up his leg, and stopped the bleeding ; 
and then the two sat down to decide what should be done. 
The nearest settlement was a hundred miles away. It was 
absolutely impossible for Cody to walk that distance. His 

115 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

friend could not carry him, and in the fright which the 
bear had given the two oxen one had killed itself, and the 
other had become so maimed that it had to be shot. What 
the youngsters were to do they did not know. No one was 
nearer than a hundred miles, and there was no way of 
getting a boy with a broken leg that distance. Yet it was 
a case of starving to death or of doing something at once. 
Therefore the two trappers, hardly fourteen years old, de- 
cided that Phillips should start at once and walk the hun- 
dred miles for assistance. 

To go and come back would take him twenty days at 
least. That meant twenty days lying in a cave for Bill, 
without his having the power even to get up and go out- 
side. Yet there was nothing else to do, and the good nerve 
of the two boys was sufficient for the occasion. 

Phillips made Cody as comfortable as he could and put 
all the food they had near him. They figured out just 
how much he was to eat each day in order to hold out until 
assistance should be brought, and then shaking hands, 
Phillips left him. 

The poor boy felt too lonely and heartbroken to eat 
much of anything in the first day or two. He counted the 
days as they passed by cutting a notch in a stick of wood 

116 



Little Bill Cody at School and at the Traps 

each day. Gradually his leg healed, and in the course of 
two weeks he could move about a little. That alone re- 
lieved the pressure of loneliness, for hobbling to the mouth 
of the cave and looking outside was a very different thing 
from lying perfectly still in one position day after day. 
He tried to use up some of the time by studying the school- 
books which his mother had asked him to take with him, 
and it was in the midst of one of these attempts to pass 
away the hours by reading over again what he had already- 
read a dozen times, that he looked up and saw an Indian 
in war-paint standing inside the cave gazing at him. 

In a moment a dozen or more warriors had followed the 
first. The boy thought his last day had come, for the delay 
that had occurred already was a longer time than the Ind- 
ians usually gave any white man to live if they were in a 
position to put him out of existence. The chief in his gut- 
tural tones, without changing his expression at all, said : 

"How?" 

Bill said : " How ?" and then they looked at one an- 
other, the boy's mind flying along all the possible schemes 
which an expert frontiersman could think of to prolong a 
discussion that might possibly save his life. As he was 
thinking, gazing thus at the Indians one after another, he 

117 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

suddenly recognized one of them who was a chief named 
Rain-in-the-face, an Indian whom he had once befriended 
in a way that the redman appreciates. 

It seems that once, some time before, Bill had found 
the man in difficulty and had given him something to eat 
and a blanket to sleep in. Instantly the boy's mind, well 
aware of the peculiar kind of gratitude Indians feel, be- 
gan to work upon this. First he showed his leg and the 
bandages and told the story of his mishap, gaining as 
much time as he could in that way. Then suddenly he 
turned to Rain-in-the-face and reminded him of how 
once their positions had been exactly reversed and how 
he had helped the Indian to get what he most needed. 
Rain - in - the - face remembered the episode perfectly, 
and after a consultation he told Cody that although 
he and his friends were out in search of scalps, they 
would not molest him, but that that was the limit of 
their kindness. 

The Indians ransacked the cave, took everything that 
was of value from it, leaving only a small amount of food. 
And yet after they were gone the boy was so thankful for 
the chance that had thrown this one Indian in his way 
and had saved his life that he could not even complain of 

118 



Little Bill Cody at School and at the Traps 

the starvation which stared him in the face. He took 
what little food was left and divided it up, allowing 
ten days beyond the twenty for the return of Phillips, 
and kept strictly to the portion each day that would 
keep him in some sort of food until the thirty days were 
up. 

A day or two after the episode of the Indians a heavy 
snow-storm set in, and lasted for so long that when it 
finally ceased the mouth of the cave was entirely covered 
over with snow. That seemed almost the last straw, for 
little or no light came into the cave, the cold was intense, 
and the boy was unable to go out. Hour by hour, day in 
and day out, he sat there, unable to read any more and 
without any appetite for the little food he could allow him- 
self. 

Three weeks passed — one day over the time in which 
Phillips might have returned. The little fellow's mind 
almost gave way from the strain that was put on him 
as he sat there with night following day, and no change — 
only expectancy. 

Twenty-eight days passed. He had but a day or so more 
of food. If help did not come within the next three days 
at the most, he would starve to death. To add to his 

119 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

misery, most of the wood that had been left was used 
up. 

So the boy sat on the twent3^-ninth day, huddled over the 
little flame that he could spare himself, hardly realizing 
now the passage of time, when he suddenly heard his name 
called. It seemed to him that he must be dreaming. He 
sat perfectly still listening, unable even to make a reply, 
and then the name rang out again and was repeated time 
after time. With all the strength he had left he answered 
the call, and it was his answering cry that enabled Phil- 
lips and the relief party to find the cave and begin digging 
through the snow. 

When the two boys came together Bill Cody's nerves 
gave way and he was carried out more dead than alive. 
But he was alive and bound to have many more of these 
hair-breadth escapes that make perhaps as extraordinary 
a record as could be told of any man who has ever 
lived. 

These adventures, which read to-day as if they came out 
of a wild, unreal story of adventure, happening as they did 
in the life of this boy not yet fifteen years old, prepared 
the way for a youth and early manhood of such extraordi- 
nary usefulness to the plains that Cody by the time the 

120 



Little Bill Cody at School and at the Traps 

civil war came was one of the most expert frontiersmen, 
guides, and scouts that existed in the United States. And 
yet in 1860 he was but fifteen years old, too young, in 
other words, to go to college to-day, younger than most 
boys now when they get their first shotgun or rifle. 



Ill 

The Pony Express Rider 

AT the time when the civil war broke out Cody was too 
.young to enlist. No regiment would take him, and 
besides, his mother, who was in feeble health and who had 
all the family to look out for, begged and prayed him to 
stay at home, as she said it was more important for him, 
the man of the family, to watch over them than to put his 
services at his country's disposal. The boy wanted to go. 
It was a natural contingency for a young man brought up 
as he had been brought up. Yet he gave up this ambition 
for his mother. Bill promised his mother that he would 
never go to war as long as she was alive, but that as he 
must do something to earn money, he had to go to work at 
once. His chance came with an opportunity to join a 
group of men who will be read about as long as there is 
any history of the United States. Their work only lasted 
a few years, but it was so extraordinary, so exciting, so 
near to the ideal of a life of adventure, that it stands out 

122 



The Pony Express Rider 

more important than many an era in this country's his- 
tory which had greater results and extended over a longer 
time. 

The firm of Eussell, Majors & Waddell, who have al- 
ready been mentioned, increased in importance because 
they were the only men who carried out on a large scale 
successfully the business of transporting freight across the 
desert and the mountains to California. But as Cali- 
fornia grew — and it grew very fast in a few years — there 
came a demand for a speedier method of communication 
between the Western frontier in the East and the Eastern 
frontier in the West. Those two thousand miles of waste 
land consumed a month or more when transportation was 
by means of bull trains. It did not matter very much 
with freight, but in the transportation of money, of let- 
ters, of business arrangements that time grew to be too 
long for advancing civilization. 

The great freight - transporters, therefore, conceived 
the idea of getting up a scheme for carrying a few letters 
at a much faster rate from St. Joseph to San Francisco 
by means of a single horseman riding a pony at full speed. 
Their idea was that a man should mount a swift pony, well 
tried for his endurance before starting; that this man 

123 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

should ride fifteen miles straight out into the desert, and 
that at the end of the fifteen miles there should be a 
station — that is, a house with a couple of men in it, who 
would have another pony ready. The horseman was to 
ride up to this shanty, jump to the ground with his bag of 
letters, immediately jump on the fresh pony, and rush 
along another fifteen miles to a similar station. Some of 
these stations were in settlements, some were in towns, 
but most of them were on the bleak prairies or in the hills 
of the Rocky Mountains. The trail was the same as that 
used by the freight bull trains. The bull-train stations 
were of course used, but it was necessary to increase the 
number of stations. Some of the divisions were longer 
than others. But the average was a distance of forty- 
five miles; that is, the man who rode one of these 
divisions of the two thousand miles, rode fifteen miles on 
one pony, fifteen miles on the second, and fifteen miles on 
the third. Then he began his return trip of forty-five 
miles. The longest division was two hundred and fifty 
miles. 

Sometimes the country was open and moderately easy 
for riding. Sometimes it was up rocky gulches or through 
forests where the riding was hard. It required in the men 

124 



The Pony Express Rider 

the hardest kind of physique and endurance, in the ponies 
surefootedness as well as swiftness. Sometimes in order 
to keep up the schedule the men were obliged to cover 
twenty-five miles in an hour on flat country, in order to 
make up for slower going in the hills. They received 
about one hundred and twenty-five dollars a month, which 
was very high pay. But that gave the promoters of the 
scheme their choice among the best men of the frontier. 

The letters were carried in mail-pouches or bags that 
hung over the saddle, and no rider was allowed to carry 
more than twenty pounds. In order to get as much mail 
within the twenty pounds as possible letters were written 
on tissue-paper. Whatever money was carried was in 
paper, and one Eastern newspaper printed a special edition 
on tissue-paper for use only on this famous Pony Express. 
So in the twenty pounds there were hundreds of letters. 
In fact, the paper was so thin that even a hundred letters 
would not occupy a space larger than that occupied by an 
ordinary monthly magazine to-day. The mail-pouches 
were water-proof, and once locked at St. Joseph, Missouri, 
they were not opened until they were delivered in Sacra- 
mento, California, two thousand miles away. 

It seems almost incredible, but that distance was covered 
9 125 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

in a time that was extraordinarily short for those days, 
when one remembers that the whole journey was made by 
running ponies. It was an exciting time when the first 
pony was ready and saddled at the offices of Russell, 
Majors & Waddell, in St. Joseph. A large crowd gathered 
long before the appointed time for starting, and when the 
pony was brought forth he was greeted with cheers. At 
the exact moment a frontiersman came out of the office, 
threw the pouch over the saddle, leaped on the pony, and 
started off at the top speed the pony was capable of, fol- 
lowed by the cries and cheers of the crowd. This first trip 
was started on the 3d of April, 1860. That journey, 
where the mail-bags were thrown across the ponies and 
carried by a number of riders, took ten days to do the two 
thousand miles. It was an average of two hundred miles 
a day, or between eight and nine miles an hour for every 
hour of the twenty-four for ten days, including all stops 
and all delays. But in a short time the average trip was 
made regularly in nine days, and the fastest trip was made 
when President Lincoln's inaugural address was carried 
over the two thousand miles in seven days and seventeen 
hours. 

When Codv was looking for work he conceived the idea 

126 



The Pony Express Rider 

of enlisting as one of the Pony Express riders, and he went 
to the office of the company and asked if he could not be 
one of the riders. They told him that he was too young, 
as he was then only a little over fourteen. But he insisted 
he could do it, and finally they gave him the shortest trip, 
a ride of thirty-five miles with three changes of ponies. 

When the time came for him to be ready for the first 
trip the boy was outside of his station with his pony ready, 
looking across the prairie for the rider who was to bring 
the mail-pouches from the next station. Close upon time 
the man appeared. Drawing up to the station he jumped 
off, threw the bag to Cody, who in turn leaped into his 
saddle with it and started on his fifteen miles. He reach- 
ed his first station on time, dismounted, and mounted a 
fresh pony which was standing ready, and started on the 
second relay. And so with the third, until he finished his 
thirty-five miles and threw the bag to the next man, who 
was waiting. And within an hour he was ready again for 
the rider coming from the direction of San Francisco. As 
soon as he had the mail he mounted a fresh pony and rode 
back over the same thirty-five miles. 

Thus the boy did seventy miles every day for three 
months. But endurance was not the only quality the rider 

127 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

must have. Through most of the whole route there was 
constant danger of a " hold up " either from Indians or 
from outlaws, who knew that the bag frequently contained 
money. He must be as alert and as good a frontiersman 
in the knowledge of Indian warfare as he was a good horse- 
man. It was some time before the boy had any incident 
other than the ordinary episodes of the long ride. How- 
ever, the time came. 

He was riding as fast as his pony could go through a 
ravine one day when there sprang out in front of him in 
the narrow track a man with his rifle at his shoulder. 
Young Cody knew enough to know that the man had what 
was called the " drop " on him. There was nothing to do 
but pull up and await events. It was a white man — a 
desperado of the plains. He told the boy that he meant 
him no harm, but that he wanted the money in the bag. 
Cody could do nothing but sit quietly on his pony. But al- 
ways alert, always on the watch for every opportunity, in 
a situation that, young as he was, he had been in many 
times before, he kept a keen eye on the man while appear- 
ing to submit. The outlaw was careless enough to ap- 
proach the pony from the front, and as he got within 
reach the young horseman by a trick that he had used 

128 



The Pony Express Rider 

many times before made the pony rear so suddenly that his 
fore foot struck the man in the head and knocked him 
senseless. 

Bill knew that somewhere in the vicinity the highway- 
man had a horse. He at once dismounted, bound the 
man hand and foot while he was insensible, and then began 
to hunt for the horse in the bushes. He found him a few 
rods away, and when he got back his opponent had come 
to. Unbinding his legs, Bill forced him to mount his own 
horse, and then strapped him on. Although the young- 
Pony Expressman was late at the next station, the fact 
that he had brought in a robber and had saved his mail- 
pouch was quite sufficient excuse for the delay of the mail 
that day. 

At the end of a few months the work proved too severe 
for him to continue, and he was laid off as supernumerary 
— that is, a man who could be called on to ride in any emer- 
gency. It was not long, however, before he made applica- 
tion for another job on the Pony Express. He went to< 
Fort Laramie and looked up a man named Slade, who was 
agent of the line there. Slade told him he was too young, 
but on hearing his name he slapped him on the shoulder 
and said that he had heard of him before and that he would 

129 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

give him a job. This run was from Ked Buttes to a place 
called Three Crossings, and the distance was seventy-six 
miles. The boy started running this route regularly each 
day, and for a time had no unusual experience. One day, 
however, having made the run out of seventy-six miles, he 
found, when he arrived at his last station, that the man 
who was supposed to carry the bag to the next station, a dis- 
tance of eighty-five miles, had been wounded by Indians. 
Bill offered to go on and carry the bag over that man's 
section, and as there was no one else to do it he was sent 
on. This second division covered a distance of one hun- 
dred and sixty-one miles. That made one continuous route 
of three hundred and twenty-two miles out and back with- 
out stopping. In that time he rode twenty-one ponies and 
made the longest trip ever made by a Pony Express rider. 

It was while on this route that one day he suddenly 
came upon a man who appeared from behind a large rock 
as Cody passed. There was no time for thought, and Bill 
immediately reached for his revolver, but upon seeing him 
the man dropped his rifle and came forward. He turned 
out to be a famous character of the plains named " Cali- 
fornia Joe," and on seeing the young boy he immediately 
asked him if he were not Bill Cody. Then the frontiers- 

130 



The Pony Express Rider 

man told him that a little way back on the road he had 
what he called " a little misunderstandm' with two men, 
and now I has to plant 'era." 

It was only a little later that, as Bill left one of the 
stations, the boss called to him to look ont, there were re- 
ports of Indians in the vicinity. Cody said he would, 
and started away at breakneck pace. Here again, 
as many times before and after, the boy's instinctive 
knowledge and immediate perception of anything, no mat- 
ter how small, that was imusnal or unnatural on the plains 
saved his life. Always keeping a keen watch, he suddenly 
saw above the top of a pile of rocks something that he 
knew was not put there by nature. It was a little speck of 
color, and long before any average human being would 
have seen it at all he knew that it was a feather in the 
head-dress of an Indian in war-paint. He did not stop or 
turn. He kept on at his furious pace until he was within 
rifle-shot. Then ducking behind his pony, he Uirned him 
instantly off the trail, and at the same moment a puff of 
smoke from behind the rock showed that his guess had 
been true. The bullet went where the rider should have 
been, but it missed by the swerve which he had caused the 
pony to make. Out sprang two warriors, and a party of 

131 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

Indians appeared from a little distance further away. 
And now it became a ride for life. As he approached the 
end of the valley, which narrowed into a point, he saw that 
some of the Indians on the slopes were riding down to 
cut off his track. He watched his opportunity, and luckily 
for him those Indians had no rifles. He saw them fit the 
arrows to their bows, waited for the right moment, and 
just before the leading Indian fired his arrow the boy shot 
him with his revolver. When he reached the next station 
he found that his pony had two arrows sticking in its 
flesh. 

At this time the Pony Express had to be stopped for 
some time on account of the number of Indians who 
were lying in wait all along the trails to capture the riders, 
and so the boy was once more out of a job. 

He became a supernumerary again, and as there were 
days in which he had nothing to do, he was in the habit of 
going out hunting, selling the skins of the animals he shot. 
On one of these trips he came upon a group of horses tied 
near a stream, and hearing voices in a dugout cave near 
by, he went to investigate. It turned out that the men 
were a group of prairie ruffians. They supposed him 
to be an advance scout in search of themselves, and for 

132 "' 



The Pony Express Rider 

a few moments there was a quick play of wit against 
wit. 

They asked him where he came from. He pointed back- 
wards. They asked where his horse was. He said it was 
down by the stream. They asked him to go and get it and 
join them. He said he would, volunteering, with the keen- 
ness of men whose lives are always at stake, to leave his 
gun with them. That allayed suspicion for the moment, 
but they even went so far as to send two of their number 
with him. The boy, as they reached the horse, carelessly 
said that he had shot some game and would pick it up, in 
the mean time asking the men to lead his horse on ahead. 
Then turning behind the second man, he struck him a blow 
with his revolver and shot the other. Mounting his pony, 
Cody then dashed down the ravine. In a moment the 
whole party were after him. It was certain that he would 
soon be overtaken, as his own pony was tired and theirs 
were fresh. Bill turned the corner of some rocks and, 
dismounting, gave the pony a slap and sent him tearing 
down the ravine, while he himself hid in the bushes and 
watched the whole party tear by in the pursuit of the rider- 
less horse. He then calmly walked back to the station at 
Horseshoe and told of the adventure. Such experiences as 

133 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

this followed one after another, until in 1863, with the 
civil war in full progress, Cody, then seventeen years old, 
received word that his mother was dying. He went imme- 
diately to their home, and arrived in time to see his mother 
before she died. 

It was a sad household that gathered together after the 
burial, and when the children talked over what they 
should do, they were astonished to hear that Cody had 
made up his mind to enlist at once in the Northern army. 
He had kept his word with his mother and had not be- 
come a soldier as long as she lived ; but now that she was 
dead and the family homestead out of debt, he was free 
from all promises. 

He at once enlisted, and his regiment was soon ordered 
to the front, but the young man was so able as a scout that 
he soon came to be used on special duty. Then, too, his 
fame as a plainsman was well known, and it reached mili- 
tary headquarters long before he himself arrived. He was 
at once selected, therefore, as a bearer of military de- 
spatches at Fort Larned, and one of his first escapades took 
place soon after he was put upon this work. Some of the 
Southerners bore a grudge against him that dated back to 
the time when he had saved his father from them. These 

134 



The Pony Express Rider 

men — now on the Southern side — heard of his journey 
and laid in ambush by a stream in a gulch where it was 
necessary for him to cross on account of the ford. They 
hid their horses in a clump of trees and went to a cabin 
near the ford to wait for his arrival. Darkness came on 
before he reached the spot, and as by this time the young 
man had acquired the habit of absolutely observing every- 
thing at all times about him, he soon discovered the fresh 
tracks of horses. Without any other object than the 
natural instinct to find the reason for everything that pre- 
sented itself, he quietly dismounted, followed the trail, and 
found the five horses. It was evident that there were five 
men near by watching for him. 

The only thing to do was to ride on as quietly as pos- 
sible and try to make the ford. He was in the act of enter- 
ing the water when he heard their cries, and, urging his 
horse into the stream, he turned in his saddle, and before 
any of the five could pull a trigger he had shot one of 
them. Still he spurred the horse on, turned again and shot 
another. But the others were firing now, and so Gody fell 
forward across his horse and was lucky enough to make 
the other side of the stream. There he was safe, because 
the other three were not mounted. 

135 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

When the scout returned with answers to the despatches 
he became very wary as he approached the ford. There 
were no signs, however, of an attacking party, and, coming 
up to the shanty, he found one of the men whom he had 
shot dying there alone. The man had been left by his pals 
with enough food to last him until he should die, and Bill 
discovered that he was a man whom he had known from his 
earliest boyhood, and who had been a supposed friend of 
his father. As the man was near his end, the boy gave 
him water and sat by him until he died. He then return- 
ed to Fort Larned. 



IV 

"Bill Cody, the Scout" 

WITH his entrance into the United States army " Bill 
Cody," as he had come to be known, arrived at man's 
estate, although he was scarcely eighteen years of age. He 
was known not only all over the West, bnt every army 
headquarters knew of the skilful frontiersman, and even at 
that early date most boys of the United States had read 
some part of his life in the newspapers. 

Now his work became that of a man, and he had plenty 
of narrow escapes during the war, which in their way were 
as remarkable as his experiences on the plains. For ex- 
ample, once General Smith, who was in charge of head- 
quarters at Memphis, got hold of him and told him that he 
wished to get some information and have some maps 
drawn of the position of the Confederate troops ; and that 
it was impossible to secure this unless he could find a man 
who would go into the Confederate camp in disguise. Cody 
immediately consented to go. It did not seem any more 

137 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

dangerous or any less honorable than carrying out the 
regular life of a scout and Indian-hunter of the plains. 

Just before the trip he had captured a man whom he 
knew, but who sided with the Southerners — a man named 
Nat Golden, who had been one of Russell, Majors & Wad- 
dell's freight-men. On this man he found some despatches, 
which he promptly read. Golden Avas such an old friend 
that Cody took the papers from him, and when the man was 
arrested, nothing being found on him to make him a spy, 
he was simply imprisoned. Bill never told. With these 
papers in his possession and dressed in the Confederate 
uniform, the spy entered the Confederate lines, after tell- 
ing General Smith what was in the despatches. 

He was, of course, immediately halted by the pickets, to 
whom he stated that he was a Confederate soldier with in- 
formation for the General. After being disarmed he was 
taken to General Forrest, and a conversation then took 
place in which Cody told Forrest that Golden had been 
captured, and that as he was being taken prisoner he had 
banded Cody the despatches, asking him to take them to 
General Forrest. The story seemed so plausible that the 
General allowed him to stay in camp. And for two days 
he kept his eyes open, drew plans, and was ready to leave, 

138 



"Bill Cody, the Scout" 

when he came near losing his presence of mind, as well as 
his life, by discovering General Forrest talking with Gol- 
den himself, who had escaped from the Union lines. He 
knew that there was no time for delay. Golden, having no 
"idea that Cody was in the Confederate lines, would tell 
Forrest the whole story as it actually happened, and the 
General would at once have him arrested. He went, there- 
fore, apparently in great calmness, to his tent, got his horse 
saddled, and rode quietly toward the picket line. No one 
suspected that anything was the matter. No one paid any 
attention to him. As he got to the picket lines the ser- 
geant spoke to him, recognized him, and allowed him to 
pass. 

He was outside the lines — in fact, he was between 
the Union and the Confederate lines — when he heard the 
sound of a squad of cavalry approaching. Then he put 
his horse to the run and in a moment discovered that a 
troop of Confederate cavalry was approaching from be- 
hind to meet a troop of Union cavalry approaching from 
the front. The one thought a spy was escaping ; the other 
thought that a deserter or a spy was approaching. It was 
a hard situation. Fortunately, he got into some timber, 
and as he came out on the other side he discovered the 

139 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

Union lines. But it was not safe for him to approach in 
Confederate uniform, and so, with the knowledge that the 
Confederate cavalry were looking for him in the woods, 
Cody calmly dismounted at the spot where he had left his 
uniform, changed his clothes, and was able to lay his maps 
and report before General Smith within forty-eight hours 
from the time he had left. 

After some further experiences with the force at the 
front, Cody was assigned to duty at St. Louis. Office-work 
palled on him, however, and he soon procured his release, 
as the war was practically over. He then returned to Fort 
Leavenworth and looked again for a job. This time it 
turned out to be the work of driving the famous overland 
stage which ran from St. Joseph to Sacramento, doing the 
two thousand miles in nineteen days on the average. This 
stage was another of the enterprises of the great firm of 
Russell, Majors & Waddell. It was a difficult enterprise, 
too. The stage frequently carried large sums of money, 
and was therefore frequently held up by desperadoes or 
Indians. 

No one seemed very anxious to undertake the work of 
driver, although it was well paid. And the now famous 
Indian scout saw his opportunity again of making rela- 

140 



"Bill Cody, the Scout" 

tively large sums of money by taking risks that few others 
would take. He was at once offered the opportunity on his 
application, and started driving the coach for what was 
called a division — that is, two hundred and fifty miles. 

Those were strange old coaches. One of them may be 
seen to-day by any boy who will go to Buffalo Bill's famous 
Wild- West Show and watch the old Deadwood coach drive 
around the ring. They were large-wheeled wagons swung 
on braces. They had to be strong, for they went over the 
most frightful roads one can imagine. Passengers could 
ride inside or on top, and every one who travelled went as 
fully armed as he could. There never was a time in the 
night or day when the coach was not apt to be attacked. 
And if it were attacked, the man on the box was the first 
one shot. Cody's run was from Fort Kearny to Plum 
Creek, and he drove six horses. When he took hold of the 
job he was warned that Indians were all about, and rumors 
came thicker and thicker in the first month of his driving. 
' Nothing happened, however, with the exception of one 
trip, where he saved the coach and the lives of all in it by 
a daring rush through a stream in the face of a party of 
Indians. But shortly after this he was told by the di- 
vision superintendent, as he left Fort Kearny, that in the 

141 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

coach was a very large amount of money being sent in a box 
to Plum Creek. It was a question whether the existence 
of this treasure had become known or not. At any rate, 
Cody said he would be on the watch. First, before mount- 
ing on the box, he looked over the passengers — and here 
again was the same habit of looking at everything and 
everybody that might have any relation to the situation. 
He did not like the looks of two of the passengers, and as 
the conductor, who always travelled with the driver on the 
trip, was suddenly prevented from going, his suspicions 
became keener. 

Again the keen boy decided that the thing to do was to 
take time by the forelock. He had proceeded only a part 
of the distance after all but the two passengers had left 
when he pulled up the coach and got down as if to examine 
the running-gear. Then he asked the two men to help him. 
As they started to come out of the coach Cody pointed 
two revolvers at them and he]d them up in the most ap- 
proved fashion. He made them throw out their revolvers, 
then bound them and put them back in the coach. 

Something that one of the men had said made him think 
that they were part of a gang, the other members of which 
were somewhere in ambush along the trail. On reaching 

142 



"Bill Cody, the Scout" 

the first relay station he deposited his prisoners with the 
agent and then started on. 

There were no other passengers. He had no sooner got- 
ten away from the station than, stopping again, he cut open 
one of the cushions of the coach, and taking the money 
from the box, put it inside the cushions and then patched 
up the opening. After that he remounted the box and 
rode on. 

Within an hour, while driving through a bit of timber, 
the expected happened. The coach was held up by half a 
dozen men. They started to look for the treasure. Cody 
told them a long story of two men who had been riding as 
passengers, who had held him up in a lonely spot, taken 
the treasure, and disappeared into the timber. The gang 
immediately recognized their confederates, and in a fury 
at being thus deceived, they waited only long enough to 
ask him if they were mounted. On receiving an answer 
that they were not and also a description of the direction 
they had taken, the highwaymen left him in peace and rode 
in hot haste after their confederates. 

And the driver of the overland stage finished his jour- 
ney and deposited the treasure into the hands that it was 
intended for. 

143 



The Indian Campaigns with the Army 

ANY one who will read the history of the United States 
XL after the civil war will come upon a long series of 
campaigns of the United States army in the West against 
the American Indians. These Indians, as has already been 
said, constantly being more and more confined, had now 
only the great American desert and the Rocky Mountains 
to live upon. They existed there in enormous numbers. 
They hunted the almost limitless herds of buffalo and deer. 
They fought, whenever opportunity off ered, whatever white 
men came upon them. The attempt of the government 
was to give the Indians certain territories on which they 
could live in different parts of that country. These terri- 
tories were called Indian reservations, and some of them 
still exist; but at that time — that is, between 1870 and 
1880 — the Indians were still in their native wild civiliza- 
tion, and declined to be limited to these reservations. 
They had no desire to become farmers. They wanted 

144 



The Indian Campaigns with the Army 

to roam over the plains, and hunt, and fish, and live as 
they were born to live. They could not be made like white 
men. And hence the result was a series of campaigns 
which gradually exterminated most of them and killed the 
spirit of the others. One of these campaigns was the 
famous fight of General Custer, whose command was prac- 
tically annihilated in the famous battle of Little Big Horn. 
Here again the qualities of Cody came into great demand. 
He was one of the greatest scouts in these Indian cam- 
paigns. His experiences, his fights, would number into the 
hundreds in a short decade. General Sheridan, who was 
put in command of the troops to quell the Indian uprising, 
made him the chief of his scouts, and during these years he 
was constantly at work leading the American troops against 
the Indians. 

Some time before he had acquired the name which now 
every boy in this country and almost every boy in the civil- 
ized world knows him by — " Buffalo Bill " — and the story 
of how this name was given to him is well worth the tell- 
ing. 

Cody had always been a great shot — not only an accu- 
rate, but a wonderfully quick shooter. This skill and 
quickness had saved his life many times. When he was not 

145 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

at work at some specific duty he would hunt buffaloes, rid- 
ing forth over the plains on a horse he had trained to hunt. 
As a herd of buffaloes — and there were hundreds of them 
— was seen approaching some camp where Cody was, he 
would mount this horse, throw the reins on his neck, and 
sit quietly while the animal ran diagonally toward the 
herd at full speed, selected of his own will the last of the 
herd, and worked with all his keen, nervous ability until 
he brought his rider close alongside the shaggy animal. 
There is but one spot that is very vulnerable in a buffalo. 
You may shoot a dozen times and hardly wound him, but 
if one shot reaches the vital spot, the animal drops dead in 
his tracks. Again and again the men of the plains have 
seen Cody start out on his horse, and within a few minutes 
from the firing of the first shot drop ten or a dozen of the 
wild beasts of the prairie. 

The story of how the name of Buffalo Bill came to be 
given to him by common consent is this: There was a 
man named William Comstock who had been called by 
his friends " Buffalo Bill " because he was such a success- 
ful buffalo-hunter. When he heard that Cody was being 
called " Buffalo Bill " too, he disputed his right to that 
title. Cody heard of it, and told some of the officers of the 

146 



The Indian Campaigns with the Army 

army post that if there was any dispute, he for one was 
willing to settle it by an actual contest in buffalo-killing. 
Comstock was as game as Cody, and accepted the chal- 
lenge. And so the plainsmen arranged the contest. 

They settled upon a huge tract of prairie near Sheridan, 
Kansas, and when the appointed day arrived everybody 
who could reach the spot came to witness the contest. Offi- 
cers, soldiers, railroad-men, scouts, pioneers, and all the 
inhabitants of that country gathered in a large crowd. 
Judges were appointed and the two claimants to the title 
were on hand. It was an easy matter in those days and 
in that place to find a herd of buffaloes, so that within an 
hour after the start they had sighted a herd and started for 
the hunt. 

As soon as the herd was sighted the two men separated, 
each working on his own account and getting all the 
buffaloes he could. Cody killed thirty-eight, to twenty- 
three for Comstock, and the sight of sixty-one buffaloes 
lying dead upon the plain must have been a wonderful 
one. 

Then they had a gala lunch, and in the afternoon started 
again. And then the final crowning feat was apparent. 
In the second contest Cody, in order to leave no doubt of 

147 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

the matter, rode his horse without either saddle or bridle, 
and even then he killed eighteen to the other's fourteen. 
From that time on to this day no one has questioned his 
right to the title of " Buffalo Bill." 

It would be impossible here to go into the many episodes 
that occurred while Bill, under the title of Colonel Will- 
iam F. Cody, was chief of the United States Army Scouts. 
It is only possible to say that in that capacity he not only 
made it possible for the United States army to accomplish 
a work impossible without scouts who had been brought up 
in that kind of fight, but it is safe to say that if General 
Custer had had him with him, the frightful massacre of 
Little Big Horn would never have occurred. But in all 
that time Buffalo Bill was at work upon his chosen pro- 
fession, with the exception of a short time when, against his 
will, he was made a justice of the peace. 

There is an interesting and amusing episode told of his 
short legal career that is worth mentioning briefly here. 
Shortly after his appointment, which was made because 
of the necessity of having a justice of the peace at hand in 
the army post, a couple came to him to be married. He 
was very much disturbed and embarrassed, scarcely know- 
ing what to do, but he got along all right until the end of 

148 



The Indian Campaigns with the Army 

the service, and then, to the amazement of the assembled 
party, he ended all by saying: 

" Whom God and Buffalo Bill hath joined together, let 
no man put asunder." 

In the midst of these years of scouting in the Indian 
fights the great Western scout was always in difficulty as 
to the management of his financial affairs. He always has 
said that he was not born a business man. When he had 
money he spent it like a gentleman, no matter how much it 
was. Once when he was not busy in Indian campaigning 
he conceived the idea of representing on the stage certain 
phases of life on the plains in order to make some money. 
The first venture took place in Rochester, New York. In 
order to make the show as realistic as possible, he himself 
and two other scouts were put into a play written especi- 
ally for them, and the descriptions of the first perform- 
ance make an episode in Buffalo BilPs life that must have 
been as amusing and as extraordinary as the episodes of 
his life on the plains were exciting and dangerous. The 
three were stage-struck from the time the curtain went up, 
and all of them forgot their lines. But Buffalo Bill, find- 
ing that nothing was going to happen and realizing that the 
audience were sitting in their seats expecting something to 

149 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

happen, answered the questions put to him by the manager 
and told a story. That poor manager must have had a bad 
quarter of an hour. He was also taking part in the piece, 
and was utterly at a loss what to say or do. Bill told a 
story of one of his experiences on the plains in his own 
language. This proving to meet with the approval of the 
audience, the manager continued asking questions, drawing 
forth story after story, so that when the play ended the 
audience left full of enthusiasm for the extraordinary 
show, which in reality did not contain one single line of 
the original drama. 

The scheme was not successful, however, and some years 
later Buffalo Bill got together some friendly Indian chiefs 
and some frontiersmen and constructed a simple play of 
the plains which was an immense success. At different 
times for five years this play — " The Scout of the Plains " 
— was played in nearly every city of any size in the 
United States. Frequently it would be having a run in 
some town when word would come from a commanding 
officer at a Western army post that the Indians were 
on the war-path again. Then the play would be closed, 
and the scouts, with their chief at their head, would 
hasten to the plains and begin again their real warfare, 

150 



The Indian Campaigns with the Army 

returning to the sham fights of the play when the real 
ones were over. 

And it was this remarkable success in representing to 
people in Eastern cities the actual life on the plains that 
gave Colonel Cody the courage to carry out an idea which 
had been in his mind for many years — that is, of putting 
before people a true representation of the different phases 
of the life in that immense country, thousands of miles in 
length and width, which existed between 1840 and 1870, 
and which has now gone forever. 



VI 

Buffalo Bill and His Show 

THEEE is only a word to be said of Buffalo Bill's " Wild 
West," because the space at our command does not 
make it possible to tell the whole story in detail. The 
enterprise is now one of huge proportions, but it started 
much smaller. The reason for its enormous popularity 
and increase is that it is almost unique among plays or 
shows of every kind. For it gives to the audience a real 
picture, with real characters, of a most exciting period of 
civilization in this country that never has existed any- 
where else, and that never will exist here again. The Ind- 
ians that have mock-fights in Buffalo Bill's arena to-day 
are absolutely the same men who used to track him and 
try to kill him in the Indian campaigns twenty or thirty 
years ago. The Deadwood coach that is attacked in the 
arena by Indians with the shooting of guns is the same 
coach that used to run across the plains and that has time 
and time again been attacked in the same way, but with 

152 



Buffalo Bill and His Show 

very different intent. The cowboys and frontiersmen 
who ride are the same men who used to live on the plains 
and herd cattle, and the ponies they ride are the bucking 
bronchos of the West. 

There have often been doubts expressed as to the reality 
of some of this. One instance is enough to show the con- 
trary. When the great Wild West Show went to Europe 
and travelled about in the ancient cities of Italy, they 
came finally to Rome and gave their daily exhibition there. 
In one of the boxes sat an Italian nobleman, the Prince 
of Sermonetta, who made the statement to his friends 
that he doubted whether the broncho-busters — the men 
who ride the bucking bronchos — were really as good riders 
as they seemed. He thought the ponies were trained to 
buck. 

This came to the ears of Buffalo Bill, and he answered 
it in his usual polite but sturdy fashion. Then the noble- 
man met him and told him that he had some wild horses 
on his estate in the country that had never been ridden 
and could not be controlled except in a mass. Buffalo Bill 
at once said that if he would have the horses brought to his 
arena some afternoon during the show he would like to 
have his men make a try at riding them. ^Nothing pleased 

153 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

the nobleman more, and of course the experiment was ad- 
vertised all over Italy. 

On the appointed day the horses were brought on in 
cars. There was considerable difficulty and a good deal 
of excitement in getting them out of the cars and into the 
arena. As soon as they found themselves loose after being 
cooped up in such undignified fashion, they were wild in- 
deed. The arena was cleared of everything except these 
furious beasts, and then half a dozen cowboys calmly 
walked in with their lariats to make the trial. It was prob- 
ably the most interesting exhibition ever given by the Wild 
West Show. Quietly and warily the cow-punchers threw 
their lassoes, wound them about the feet of the horses, 
threw them, and held them down. Then they saddled and 
bridled them, and then the riding began. The show was 
not materially delayed ; the audience left and got home at 
the usual time ; but before they had quitted the arena every 
one of the wild horses was ridden quietly and in dignified 
fashion around the ring and up in front of the nobleman's 
box, and it was reported that no one was more pleased than 
that same nobleman himself. 

There are many additional and interesting features to 
Buffalo Bill's show to-day, such as the Cossack riders, the 

154 



Buffalo Bill mid His Show 

San Juan battle, and the regiments of different European 
armies. But they do not add to the value of what will 
go down in history as " Buffalo Bill's Wild West." That 
is all true as gold. That is justly remarkable because of 
the real way in which it tells a real story, and if the boy 
of to-day who reads this would like to see what the Indians 
and the white men of the Western plains were in those 
days, how they fought, how they travelled, and how they 
lived, he may see it still by going to see the show. He will 
never see it anywhere else again. 

In ending this little sketch of a remarkable man it is 
worth telling an episode of the experiences of these na- 
tives of the wilderness in the midst of the centuries-old 
cities of the Old World. Everywhere the company went 
in England, in Europe, the famous scout was entertained 
by royalty and entertained them in return. One day after 
they had opened in London the King, then the Prince of 
Wales, expressed a desire to see the show. A box was pre- 
pared and the royal party attended. The whole exhibi- 
tion was so new and interesting that in a short time the 
Prince went again, and expressed a desire to ride around 
the ring in the Deadwood coach. Buffalo Bill was ready 
and called for five passengers. The five passengers who 

155 



The Adventures of Buffalo Bill 

accepted were the Prince of Wales himself on the box 
beside Buffalo Bill, and four kings who happened to be 
visiting in England — the King of Denmark, the King of 
Saxony, the King of Greece, and the Crown-Prince of 
Austria. As usual, the coach started. But this time the 
Indians who attacked and the cowboys who rescued the 
coach had been instructed to " do something a little extra," 
to give a little louder yells, to fire a few more shots. And 
it is no wonder if, as the rumor goes — though proof does 
not exist — that before the ride was over some of the four 
kings were under the seats. When the trip was finished 
and the Prince of Wales congratulated Buffalo Bill, he 
said to him: 

" Colonel, did you ever hold four kings like that be- 
fore?" 

And Cody replied : " I have held four kings more than 
once. But, your Koyal Highness, I never held four 
kings and a royal joker before." 



THE END 

LbN'?9 



